Hughesville, PA — Three-year-old trotters and pacers took to the track Thursday (July 3) during a “Two-Day Meet” at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds, following the 2-year-old racing of the day before, and the sophomores put a battering on the local speed record book, the likes of which has seldom been seen at any Keystone State half-mile oval.
The fastest mile of the day – and the fastest mile ever at the Hughesville oval — was the 1:55.2 paced by the Always B Miki filly Milagro for the husband-wife team of driver Tony and trainer Linda Schadel. The previous overall local standard had been 1:56.1, also set by a filly, Blank Cheek, in 2023.
Setting records is nothing new for Milagro, who rewrote the Championship record for her division last year with a 1:54.2 victory at The Meadows. This win not only gives her the overall bragging rights at Hughesville but also matches the fastest mile ever at a Pennsylvania fair for a 3-year-old pacing filly. R N Artist first posted that time at Bloomsburg in 2003, which at the time was the fastest mile ever at any Pennsylvania fair (that overall speed record now stands at 1:53.4 by Midway Island); Tiamogonedancin equaled the standard at Bedford in 2021; and now Milagro adds her name alongside those talented fillies.
Lowering the overall track trot record to 1:58.4 – 15 minutes before Milagro strutted her stuff – was the Bar Hopping gelding Set The Bar, who not only broke the old speed bar but smashed it, with the previous local trotting record of 2:01, set by Aloysius in 2015, left in the stonedust. Trainer-driver Todd Schadel also co-owns Set The Bar, who won at Butler last week, with his wife, Christine, and Rick and Regina Beinhauer.
Todd Schadel lowered the Hughesville standard for sophomore trotting fillies to 2:00.3 with the International Moni filly Tally The Tab and then returned in 14 minutes to lower it again to 2:00 with the Cantab Hall filly Shalamar Hanover. Todd and Christine Schadel own both of these promising fillies.
The only “A” division not lowering a local record was the male pace, with the Captain Crunch colt Bettor Not winning in “only” 1:57.4 in the only “A” division. Todd and Christine Schadel not only own this one as well, but also are the parents of Cody Schadel, the driver of the second-place finisher Wheelhouse Hanover.
But the pacing colts recorded two more 2:00 miles in the “B” divisions: Home Run King (driven by Joe Chindano Sr.) in 1:58.3, and a 2:00 clocking by Alvin Hanover – driven by Cody Schadel.
The 2-year-olds on Wednesday (July 2) did not rewrite any Hughesville standards, but each division had a winner faster than the season’s leader established at Butler. The fastest freshman was Quill Gordon, a Stay Hungry-Pueblo Blue Chip gelding, who won in 2:00.3 for driver Eric Neal and trainer Mitchell York, co-owner with Erin York.
Steve Schoeffel handled the rest of the day’s headliners: the Captain Corey-First Tracks trotting colt Liege, a 2:05.1 winner, fastest freshman on his gait, for trainer Craig Knude, co-owner with Robert McMillan; and the sweepers of the pacing filly action, both of whom he trains: Beachy’s Mistress (Always B Miki-Zane Hanover) in 2:03.1, and Unawatuna (Sweet Lou-Somebeachbythesea) in 2:05.
Eric Neal won six races during the two days of racing to lead the sulky colony; Todd Schadel topped the trainers by sending out an equal number of visitors to the winner’s circle.
Racing at the Lycoming Fair proper is this coming Wednesday (July 9, 2-year-olds) and Thursday (July 10, 3-year-olds). Post time for both cards next week will again be 4 p.m.