Washington, PA – In this “hall-full / half-empty” first part of the 2021 Pennsylvania Fair Circuit season, there was plenty of good racing on Sunday (Aug. 15) for two-year-olds at the Washington County Fairgrounds, known previously as Arden Downs – but then the three-year-olds didn’t get a chance to race Monday (Aug. 16) because of foul weather.

An unusual feature of the freshman racing was that the fastest time of 2:03.4, achieved twice, came from a trotting colt and a pacing colt in the “B” Sire Stakes division.

The 2:03.4 from the Explosive Matter – Tantalizing Donna colt Cussin N Fussin was in fact a divisional track record at Washington, eclipsing the 2:04.1 previous mark of Americangeneration in 2010. Two-year-old trotting colt specialist Bill Daugherty Jr., winner of several Fair Championships in this group, may have another prospect in this freshman he trains and drives, and who is owned by Susan Daugherty.

The mark for 2-year-old trotting fillies almost was toppled as well, as the 2:04.3 of the Explosive Matter – Truffles miss Ruffle My Truffles was just two-fifths shy of the 2016 standard of Lovebeinglucky. Roger Hammer, who included this filly in his “meet” high of four driving and four training victories, guided the filly for Glenn Dyke and LeBlanc Racing Inc.

“The Hammer” posted the other 2:03.4 clocking of the meet with the Sweet Lou – Wide Open colt Wound Tight in a “B” Fair Sires event. He owns, trains, and drove the two-year-old.

The state fair circuit continues at a hot pace the next few days. There will be racing at Dayton Fair on Wednesday (Aug. 18) and Thursday (Aug. 19) at noon, and at the Somerset County Fair on Thursday at 2 p.m. and Friday (Aug. 20) at noon.