by Jeff Zidek, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Stoneboro, PA — The Great Stoneboro Fairgrounds in Stoneboro, Pa., hosted 2-year-olds in stakes action on Friday morning (Sept. 2) and Roger Hammer had yet another successful day, picking up five winning drives.

Jeff Zidek photo

Redder Than Red was one of five winners for driver Roger Hammer.

Magnolia Grace opened the card with a victory in the Pennsylvania Sire Stake 2-year-old filly trot, covering the mile in 2:04.2 for trainer/driver Bill Daugherty. Jack and Sharon Claypoole own the winner, a daughter of Glidemaster. In the second division, Cannot Tell A Lie took a 12 length lead into the final turn, then broke stride, but held on to win by three lengths in 2:06. Roger Hammer drove for the Dunn Stable and trainer Boots Dunn.

In the first division of the Quaker Pace, Estate Agent was a winner in 2:05.3 for owners Joe and Karen Offutt. Joe Offutt trains and was also in the bike, picking up the win in his first drive of the 2011 season. Estate Agent is a Dragon Again colt. In the second Quaker pacing division, DVC Itsanattitude was a winner for owner/trainer/driver David Brickell in 2:04.4 The filly is a daughter of Magical Mike.

Daugherty returned to the winner’s circle after the first Quaker trotting stake with Baron, a gelding by Anastasia Baron. Joe Urban owns and trains the winner, who covered the mile in 2:08.4. In the second division of the Quaker Trot, Stone Valley scored in a life-best 2:07.2 for owner/driver Cory Kreiser. Stone Valley, by SJ’s Caviar, is trained by John Kreiser.

Three groups of PASS filly pacers were up next, and Theshipscruisinin (Yankee Cruiser) was impressive in picking up her first career win, pacing in 2:04.3. Chris Shaw catch-drove for trainer Hoye Rickert, who co-owns with his wife, Pauline. In the second division, Chrome Over made a power move going to the opening quarter and never looked back, scoring in 2:02.3 for trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Marian Schilling and Jim Nelson own the Yankee Cruiser filly. The third division brought a sweep for sire Yankee Cruiser, as Argument Hanover survived a rough three-wide trip through the final half-mile to get up in the final strides over Shootoutthelights. Argument Hanover, driven by Jim Dodson for owner/trainer Ron Lineweaver, paced in 2:02, a new lifetime mark.

In the first of three colt trotting splits, Avenue Of Dreams was a winner for Hammer in 2:03.2. The Broadway Hall colt has now won three times in 11 outings. In the second group, Boytown was a winner for owners James and Barbara Richardson and co-owner/trainer Rich Gillock. Wayne Long guided the American Winner gelding to a 2:07 victory. The final colt trot was won by Redder Than Red, who went wire-to-wire for Dunn and Hammer in 2:04.2, a new lifetime mark. The chestnut son of SJ’s Caviar has now won six of 11 career starts.

Hammer ended the day by sweeping the PASS colt pace with Nate Breeze and Nucular Enemy, both sons of Nuclear Breeze. Nate Breeze covered the mile in 2:03.1, while his stablemate took the day’s final race in 2:02.1.

Action at Stoneboro continues on Saturday at 10 a.m., with 15 stakes events for 3-year-olds.

For video highlights from the circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.