from Harness Publicists across North America

Tuesday’s (September 1) edition of Fair Roundup features results stories from the Erie County (PA) Fair and the Indiana (PA) Fair.

PA Fair racing held in two locations

Wattsburg, PA — In Wattsburg, the Erie County Fair hosted ten stake events and Roger Hammer won half of the races.

Hammer’s Luscious Al started the day by pacing to a 2:04.3 victory in the first division of the 2-year-old Sire Stake colt pace. While it was the colt’s seventh win in 14 starts, it was not an easy victory. Lanny Merriman sent Bonners Creek (Allamerican Ingot) to the front and paced the quarter in :30.2, then reached at the half in 1:03.1. As Hammer moved his colt first-over on the outside, Bonners Creek ran in around the turn and yielded the lead, giving Hammer a chance to clear and get back to the pylons. Merriman tipped his colt to the outside for the stretch drive, and it took a photo to decide the winner. Luscious Al (Arturo) held on by a whisker in 2:04.3.

PA Harness Racing Commission photo

My Gal Mykenna was a 2:05.3 winner with Roger Hammer up.

In the second race, the first PASS filly pace, My Gal Mykenna was a 2:05.3 winner for owners Hammer and Nevin Gilbert. The Real Artist filly, like her stablemate in the first race, has now won half of her career starts, five of ten. In the second filly pacing division, Wicked Native won for Hammer and co-owner Vicki Fair. The Allamerican Native filly paced her mile in 2:08.3.

Hammer’s fourth straight win came in the first division of the 2-year-old filly trot for PA-sired horses. This time, however, it was a catch drive for Hammer, as he guided Boots Dunn’s Cantab Lady (Cantab Hall) to a 2:14.3 victory. The filly made a break behind the gate and spotted the field a solid 20 lengths before storming back for an open-length win.

Hammer’s streak was broken in the day’s fifth race, the second filly trotting division. Rosey Chick, trained and driven by Dave Brickell, scored in 2:11.3. Jack and Sharon Claypoole own the SJ’s Caviar filly.

In a 2-year-old colt trot, Tag The Lady was a 2:06 winner for trainer/driver Marty Wollam. The Tagliabue filly won for the fifth time in just eight career starts for owners Patricia Wollam, Dennis Sheehan and Charles Zeune. In the second colt trotting group, the Claypoole/Brickell combination won their second event of the day, as Mr McRail was a 2:10.2 winner. The Donerail gelding has now won 8 of 12 starts.

Hammer’s day wasn’t finished yet, however, as he then returned to the winner’s circle in the second division of the freshman colt pace. Half Moon Bay (Western Hanover) paced the mile in 2:04.3 for the win. Hammer trains and co-owns the colt with Todd Schadel.

In the lone division of the 2-year-old Quaker Trot, Zoom A Rail set a new lifetime mark by trotting in 2:10.1 for owner/trainer Elbert Kohler. Steve Schoeffel picked up the winning catch-drive.

Finally, the 2-year-old Quaker Pace was won by Metro Man, driven by Chris Shaw for owners Jason Shaw and Amanda Beinhauer. The Allamerican Ingot gelding paced in 2:09.2.

Meanwhile, in Indiana County at the Indiana Fairgrounds, Quaker Stake events opened the 11-race card. Washington County, driven by Timmy Offutt was a winner in the Quaker Trot, scoring in 2:16.4 for his first lifetime win. Owned by trainer John McMullen along with Michelle McMullen, Washington County is a son of Sierra Kosmos.

In the Quaker Pace, Milano Grande was a 2:05.2 winner for owner Michael Grande. The Arturo filly is trained by JC Miller and was driven by Jordon Miller.

The remainder of the day was filled with PA Sire Stake events, led off by two divisions of the freshman colt trot. North Broadway, driven by his owner Kyle Bolon, won the first split in 2:08.4. The Broadway Hall colt is trained by Rod Bolon. Maple Grove Caviar (SJ’s Caviar), trained and driven by Todd Schadel, won the second division in 2:10.1. Schadel co-owns with Charles Vincent.

In the first filly trotting event, Leola defeated the field with a 2:07.3 mile. The Wonder Dancer filly is owned by Ellen Warren, trained by Joyce Lineweaver, and was driven by Wayne Long. The second division was won by AJ Peyton Rose, a pacing bred filly by London Pinjarra. Joe Torok owns and trains the filly, who trotted in 2:09.2 for Schadel.

In the first colt pacing event, Fourstarzconfusion was a 2:03.1 winner for owner David Slyman and trainer Scot Davidson. A gelded son of Four Starzzz Shark, Fourstarzconfusion was driven to the victory by Kyle Bolon. The second colt pacing split was won by McDickerson, a McArdle gelding. Randy Neal drove the winner for trainer Cliff Neal, and the two share ownership. The winning time was 2:02.4.

Three filly pacing events ended the day, with Keystone Kismet capturing the first division in 2:07. Todd Schadel co-owns the Western Hanover filly with the estate of George Hempt. Schadel then won the second division as well, this time with Native Costume (Allamerican Native) in 2:04.4. In the final division, BP Wonder Woman picked up her first career win for owners Denise Erich and Rick Larkin. Trained by Bari Farcus, BP Wonder Woman (I Am A Fool) was driven by Ed McNeight, Jr.

Action continues at both Wattsburg and Indiana on Wednesday. Sophomore stake horses will be in action at Wattsburg, while Indiana will host overnight events.

For highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/phrc08.

— PA Harness Racing Commission