from the PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Hughesville, PA — Two more track records were set during a card of Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes racing for 3-year-olds Wednesday (July 20) at the Lycoming County Fair in this north central PA town, not far from Williamsport and the Little League World Series, and fair fans here saw something they won’t see very often anywhere at any fair track: a :27.1 last quarter.

Seth Dowling photo

Keystone Wonder scored in a track record time of 2:01.4.

The first track record came in the very first race of the short meet, with the Explosive Matter filly Keystone Wonder dashing home in :29.4 to stop the watch in 2:01.4, beating the previous local standard of 2:02.3 set by Monroe County three years and three days ago. Trainer/driver Bob Rougeaux III and the Brocious Racing Stable Inc. continued their hot start to the 2016 Keystone State fair season with the victory.

The ladies were also responsible for the day’s other rewriting of the local books, as Devious Behavior kept her year’s fair tally perfect after four starts with a hard-fought victory in 1:59.4, lowering by two ticks the 2:00.1 standard co-held by R N Artist (2003) and My Gal Mykenna (2010). Kevin Lare, noted for his training, has looked flawless in the sulky behind the daughter of Dragon Again, who is owned by Frank Chick.

It was no surprise that it was Star Of Terror who posted the day’s fastest mile of 1:59.1 for trainer Jason Shaw, driver/brother Chris, and the Fortunate One LLC ownership. After all, the sophomore Western Terror gelding had previously equaled the all-age record of 2:00.2 at Butler, and had gone the fastest mile of the young fair season at Gratz when he won in 1:57.1.

But veteran race fans knew they were seeing something special as Star Of Terror flew home, and after a 1:32 three-quarter clocking, the announcement of 1:59.1 as the final time — and the immediate mental subtraction revealing the number of :27.1 — had fans and horsemen buzzing as to when they had seen a faster quarter at a local fair track — or any fair track that wasn’t a mile in circumference or didn’t start with “Dela.” And most, on both sides of the fence, won’t forget the sight soon.

The firm of Shaw and Shaw each had three winners on the Wednesday Hughesville card, high for the day and giving both a colony-high 19 victories so far at the fairs. They’ll be trying to add to their totals during 17 heats of 2-year-old racing Thursday at Hughesville, with the first showdown set for high noon.