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Sunday’s (July 12) edition of Fair Roundup features a results stories from the Gratz, Pa. Fair.

Lahaye sets track record at Gratz

Gratz, PA — A new all-age track record highlighted an 11-race Pennsylvania Sire Stake card at the Gratz Fairgrounds on Sunday. All events were for 3-year-old trotters and pacers.

Ryan Zidek photo

Lahaye set a Gratz track record of 1:55.1 on Sunday.

Roger Hammer and Nevin Gilbert’s Lahaye, a sophomore by Real Artist, won his $6,079 split of the colt pace in 1:55.1, cutting a full second off the all-time track standard set in 2008 by Talk All Day and driver David Wade. Hammer guided Lahaye through fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:26.3 before cruising to the victory, the colt’s first in 10 starts on the season.

The other colt pacing division was won by Stately Art (Arturo), in 2:00. Dave Brickell drove the winner for owners Bob and Barbara Krenitsky. Bob Krenitsky trains.

Earlier in the day, Laser Pointer opened the card with a win in the first division of the 3-year-old filly trot. The Broadway Hall filly scored in 2:03.4 for trainer Syl King, Jr. and driver Tony Schadel. King co-owns the filly with John Wagner and Scott Woogen.

In the second group, RT’s SJ was a 2:07.4 winner for trainer/driver Bobby Rougeaux, as the SJ’s Caviar filly remained undefeated on the season, now 2-for-2. The Brocious Racing Stable owns the winner.

Todd Schadel’s Cantab Hall filly Keystone Twilight won the third division in 2:03.2, a lifetime best. Schadel also trains and drove her to the win, her first in eight starts this season.

He returned to the winner’s circle in the next race, guiding another member of his stable, Harper Lee, to a 1:58.2 win in the first division of the 3-year-old filly pace. Todd Schadel and Roger Hammer own the Real Artist filly.

The second filly pacing split brought the closest finish of the afternoon, as well as some fast fractions. Mud Pie Hanover and driver Steve Schoeffel battled early with Bell On Wheels and Hammer, and the latter took the lead at the quarter in :27.3 as Mud Pie Hanover broke stride. After recovering, Mud Pie Hanover returned to challenge the frontrunner at the half, which was reached in :56.2, and the battle continued to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4. At the wire, Hammer and Bell On Wheels held on by just a whisker in 1:59.2. Hammer also owns and trains the Western Hanover filly.

Hammer had an easier time in the final filly split, guiding Real Espresso (Real Artist) to a 2:00.4 victory.

Three groups of colt trotters also took to the track, with victories going to TV Kisses (TV Show Kosmos), Schtark Gal (Tagliabue), and Technicallybroadway (Broadway Hall).

TV Kisses was a 2:02 winner for driver Timmy Offutt, who handled the lines for his parents, owners Joe and Karen Offutt. Joe Offutt earned the training win.

Tony Schadel picked up his second driving victory of the day behind Schtark Gal, who is owned by Daniel Esh and trained by Matthew Aukamp. The winning time was 2:03.2.

Technicallybroadway won in 2:01.2 for trainer/driver Todd Schadel, who co-owns the gelding with his wife, Christine.

Action on the fair circuit in Pennsylvania will pick up on the weekend, with two days of Sire Stake racing at the Dayton Fairgrounds.

For video highlights, visit www.youtube.com/phrc08.

— PA Harness Racing Commission