from Harness Publicists across North America

Sunday’s (Sept. 20) edition of Fair Roundup features a results story from the Gratz (PA) Fair.

Hammer wins eight at Gratz

Gratz, PA — The two-day race meet at the Gratz Fair in Dauphin County, Pa. kicked off on Sunday afternoon and Roger Hammer ended up winning eight of the day’s 14 heats.

Three groups of freshman colt trotters opened the card in PA Sire Stake action, with Dunn Stable’s Tommaso winning his division in 2:03.4. Boots Dunn trains the Tom Ridge gelding, while Roger Hammer was the winning driver.

Ryan Zidek photo

North Broadway was one of eight winning drives on Sunday for Roger Hammer.

Hammer came back to win the second division behind Kyle Bolon’s North Broadway. Trained by Hammer, North Broadway (Broadway Hall) set a new lifetime mark with the 2:04 mile, coming back from a break early in the race to secure the win.

In the final split, Mr McRail (Donerail) held off a determined challenge by Southwind Nitro (SJ’s Caviar) to win in 2:02.1. It was the ninth win in 15 starts this season for Mr McRail, owned by Jack and Sharon Claypoole and trained/driven by Dave Brickell.

In the first 2-year-old PASS filly trotting event, RT Play Girl, a homebred filly by RT Giant, picked up her first career win, covering the mile in 2:06.2. The filly had finished second or third 13 times in 15 previous starts. Owned by the Brocious Racing Stable, RT Play Girl was driven by her trainer, Bobby Rougeaux.

Cantab Lady recovered from a break to win the second division for Hammer and give the Dunn Stable their second win of the day. The Cantab Hall filly was timed in 2:04.

The Dunn/Hammer combination teamed again in the final filly trot, as Caviar And Kisses survived a break at the wire to hold on in 2:05.1. The SJ’s Caviar filly won for the fourth time in 11 starts.

Trotters made their final appearance for the day in the Quaker Trot. John and Michelle McMullen’s Washington County picked up his second career win and lowered his lifetime mark by nine seconds to 2:07.4. John McMullen trains the son of Sierra Kosmos.

In the 2-year-old Quaker Pace, Milano Grande broke the 2:00 barrier for the first time in her career, pacing in 1:59.4 and narrowly holding off Bodine Hanover (No Pan Intended). Owned by Michael Grande and trained by JC Miller, Milano Grande was driven to victory by Jordon Miller.

PA Sire Stake freshman colt pacers battled in three divisions, with DVC Givemeattitude capturing the first split in 1:58.2, a new track record for 2-year-old colt pacers. Dave Brickell owns, trains and reined the Arturo gelding, who went wire-to-wire for his 11th win of the year. One of those wins was earlier this season at Gratz, when he originally set the track record of 1:58.3.

Half Moon Bay (Western Hanover) also paced in 1:58.2 to tie the record and win his division for trainer/driver Roger Hammer. The colt is co-owned by Hammer and Todd Schadel.

The final division also went to the Hammer Stable, as Luscious Al won his sixth straight race, pacing in 1:59. The Arturo gelding pushed his season’s bankroll over $35,000 with the win.

The day ended with three divisions of PASS 2-year-old filly pacers, with Keystone Kismet picking up a win after sitting patiently in the pocket behind battling horses. Todd Schadel trains and guided the filly to victory in 2:03.4. Keystone Kismet, a daughter of Western Hanover, is owned by the Estate of George Hempt and Schadel.

In the second division, Bliss Falcon took on all challengers, holding off early and late bids to go wire-to-wire in 2:01.4 for Roger Hammer.

The final division resulted in Hammer’s eighth driving win of the day, as My Gal Mykenna survived being parked to the first quarter in :27.4 and went on to win in 2:00.1. Hammer and Nevin Gilbert own the Real Artist filly.

Three-year-olds will be in action at Gratz on Tuesday at 12 Noon. For video highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/phrc08.

— PA Harness Racing Commission