by Jeff Zidek, information specialist, Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Bloomsburg, PA — Freshmen wrapped up their season on the Pennsylvania Fair Circuit with a trip on Wednesday (Sept. 29) to the Bloomsburg Fair in Columbia County. After two days of rain, the skies cleared and 12 PA Sire Stake events were contested.

Roger Hammer’s What R U Doin opened the day with a win in the first of three colt pacing divisions. The Metropolitan colt came into the race winless in 14 career starts, but covered the mile in 2:03 for the victory. Hammer also trains and drove.

Jeff Zidek photo

Fool To Cry paced to a new lifetime mark of 1:58.4.

In the second division, Fool To Cry (I Am A Fool) paced in 1:58.4, a new lifetime mark for trainer Randy Neal and driver Eric Neal. David and John Prushnok own the gelding, now a five-time winner in 2010.

The final group was led across the wire by Sapphire City, another son of Metropolitan. Todd Schadel, who co-owns with Hammer, trains and was in the bike. The winning time was 1:59.3.

Two groups of filly pacers were in action next, each going for a purse in excess of $6,000. Blissful Artist gave the Randy and Eric Neal combination their second win of the day, pacing in 2:02.3. Neal Racing Stable and Shainah Rugh are the winning owners.

Caramel Chinno, owned, trained and driven by Hammer, captured the other filly pace in 2:00.2, for her 10th win of the season. By Allamerican Native, Caramel Chinno went wire-to-wire for the victory.

Three groups of colt trotters were next in PASS action, and the first division was won by Chips A Cumin, who went wire-to-wire for trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel. The 2:04 victory was a lifetime best for the Chip Chip Hooray gelding. Terry Schoeffel owns.

In the second division, Hammer picked up his third win of the day, guiding SJ Better Days to the win. The SJ’s Caviar gelding got up in the final stride for a 2:06 win, the fastest of his four victories this season. Hammer also trains for the Dunn Stable.

The final colt trot kept the streak of lifetime marks intact, as Otto (Tagliabue) was a winner in 2:05. Owned by Patricia Wollam and Acadia Farms, Otto was driven by his trainer, Marty Wollam.

Four groups of filly trotters ended the day’s action, and Mynah Hanover (Cantab Hall) was a winner in the first split in 2:06. Stephen Lander and Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel own the filly, while Steve Schoeffel trains and drove.

In the second division, Arizona Miss scored in 2:04.3 for trainer/driver Hammer and owner Mervin Wengerd. Arizona Miss, a daughter of SJ’s Caviar, is now a winner of eight of 14 starts in her career.

Girls Getaway (Donerail) put on a clinic in the third division, winning by 23 lengths in 2:03.2. Chris Shaw drover for owner Bill Altmeyer and trainer Terry Altmeyer.

In the final race of the day, Hammer picked up his fifth win of the day, guiding Lyrical Lady to a quick 2:01.4 win, with a last half in :59. The Cantab Hall filly is owned by the Dunn Stable and trained by Hammer.

Weather permitting, 3-year-olds will wrap up the fair season on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. on the Bloomsburg half-mile oval. For video highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.pafairharness.com.