by Jeff Zidek, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission
Clearfield, PA — Rain showers greeted freshman trotters on Wednesday (August 3) at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds in Clearfield, Pa., and a deep track resulted in some of the season’s slowest times.
NF Flight Risk opened the day with a victory in the 2-year-old Quaker Trot for PA-owned or PA-sired horses. The winning time of 2:07.3 would prove to be the day’s quickest mile, as the Garth Vader gelding won for owner/trainer Joe Urban and driver Bill Daugherty.
In the first of three PA Sire Stake events for filly trotters, Bloomfieldcantifly, a Cantab Hall filly, was a winner for driver Chris Shaw. Owned and trained by Syl King, Bloomfieldcantifly scored in 2:12.1. The second division resulted in the first career win for Puttinonthechips, a Chip Chip Hooray filly. Owned by Jodi Martin and trained/driven by her father, Fred Uber, Puttinonthechips trotted in 2:15. The final filly division was won by Lima Blue (Cantab Hall) in 2:13.4. Al Manke drove for trainer Marty Wollam and owners Steiner Stock Farm and Acadia Farms.
Five divisions of colt trotters completed the day in PASS action, and Enduro Hanover scored in the first group. The Cantab Hall gelding, owned by Duane Burton and trainer Jeff Kirkbride, was driven to a 2:09.3 win by Roger Hammer. In the second split, Ibanez (Wonder Dancer) won for the second straight fair, trotting in 2:10.1 for driver Winston Lineweaver. Ellen Warren co-owns with trainer Eileen Lineweaver. In the third event, Gearbox Hanover, by SJ’s Caviar, was a 2:08.4 winner for driver Timmy Offutt. Joe and Chris Offutt own the winner, while Joe does the training. A newcomer to the PA Fair Circuit won the fourth division, as owner/trainer/driver James McIlmurray brought Mulligan Bi (Andover Hall) in from Michigan. The winning time was 2:13. In the final race of the day, Island Gillie, a Tom Ridge gelding, won in 2:09.3 for trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel. Stephen Lander and Kathy and Virginia Schoeffel own the two-time winner on the season.
Action at Clearfield will wrap up on Thursday, post time will be 12 Noon.
For video highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.