from the Publicity Office, Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Clearfield, PA — The only stop on the Pennsylvania fair harness racing circuit lasting more than two days, the Clearfield County Fair in the north-central part of the state led its four-day bill of fare with 2-year-olds, trotters on Sunday (July 30) and pacers on Monday (July 31) and so far the evidence is that this year’s motto is “Save The Best For First!”

Seth Dowling photo

Grapple Hanover was a 2:05 winner on Sunday.

The very first race of the 2017 Clearfield meet was won by the Andover Hall gelding Grapple Hanover, now a winner in all three of his fair outings after overcoming a first-over journey to win in 2:05, just four-fifths of a second behind the PA fairs’ season’s record for his division, which he set over the quick surface at Gratz. Wayne Long trains and drove the winner for owners William Kreutzer and Denton Barrett.

In the other “A” division for freshman trotting colts, Hockey Hanover kept his scorecard perfect after six trips behind the gate (including two Stallion Series victories on the pari-mutuel circuit), needing only 2:08.4 to report home first. The Explosive Matter gelding was driven by Wilbur Yoder for trainer John McMullen Jr. and McMullen Stable LLC.

The Muscle Massive filly Selka Song broke her maiden in the fastest filly event, winning in 2:07.1 for trainer/driver Roger Hammer and owners Mark Behl and the Charter Oak Stable of the noted veteran horseman Jim Larente Sr., 86 years young and traveling the PA circuit with his filly.

You again had to be in the stands at first post time on Monday to see the highlight event, with the wunderkind Well Said gelding Venier Hanover setting his third track record and pacing to his third 2:00 mile along the Keystone twice-around circuit, winning in 1:59.4.

Venier Hanover made things a little interesting when he made a ruffle past the three-quarter pole going on to challenge, but he proved to have enough to overcome his mistake for trainer/driver Dave Brickell, also co-owner with Mitchell York. The victory was his seventh of his brief career, earning him back a share of the lead for triumphs among all North American 2-year-olds, and the old track record of 2:01, formerly co-held by Love Of Art (2002), DVC Done Good (2006 — with Dave Brickell driving), DVC Firm Believer (2008), and Luscious Al (2009), went by the wayside.

The race immediately after this “A” event was a division of the “B” colt pace, which ironically enough was won by the only horse to defeat Venier at the fairs this year, the Delmarvalous gelding Marvalous Falcon, who won in 2:01.1. Crafty breeder/owner/trainer/driver Roger Hammer carefully read the fair Sires rules (horses finishing first or second in “A” must stay in “A”), and since his horse was third in his last start, he opted to build confidence in his horse at the relatively cheap expense of less purse money (figuring, in greatest probability, on being second to Venier). Besides, Hammer also has Cirrus De Vie, second to Venier both last week and this.

Monday’s fastest filly was the Bettor’s Delight miss Pretty Proud, now a winner of four out of six after a 2:03.2 triumph for driver Steve Schoeffel and trainer Rich Gillock, the latter co-owner with Barbara and James Richardson.

The sophomores now have their turn in the Clearfield spotlight, with trotters Tuesday and pacers Wednesday, both cards starting at noon.