by Publicity Office, Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Hughesville, PA — The second stop on the 2017 Pennsylvania fair circuit was made at the Hughesville Fair, which was a two-day Sire Stakes event on Saturday (June 24) and Sunday (June 25). On Sunday, Venier Hanover, the freshman who was the talk of the circuit after his track record performance (1:58) at the Dayton Fair last week, tasted defeated at the hooves of Marvalous Falcon. Both horses, however, provided quality performances.

Seth Dowling photo

Marvalous Falcon breaks his maiden at the Hughesville Fair on Sunday afternoon in 2:01.4.

The King of the Pennsylvania Fairs, Roger Hammer, got away quickly from post three with his homebred Delmarvalous-BT Falcon gelding Marvalous Falcon, with Venier Hanover (Well Said-Valmctorian) burdened with a second tier starting slot. Driver Dave Brickell had him outside and underway from sixth by the :29.3 quarter.

Hammer rated the half to 1:02.2, with Venier Hanover by then alongside and even slightly ahead at times, but Marvalous Falcon then threw a :28.1 third quarter to assert himself, with his game challenger staying within four lengths of the 2:01.4 winner. Marvalous Falcon is a Hammer breeder/owner/trainer/driver production.

The fastest mile of the meet came from 3-year-olds to open the racing weekend, with the Bettor’s Delight gelding The Book Of Life garnering only his second lifetime victory after stopping the timer in 2:01.2 ahead of circuit familiars like Cruiserwillwin, the 2016 fair champion, and Artist’s Ruffles. However, The Book Of Life maximized his talents on this day for driver Shawn Johnston, trainer Rich Gillock, and owner Harry Locke.

Though Venier Hanover may have suffered his first defeat, his stablemate in the Dave Brickell barn, Camera Lady, continued her love affair with Keystone State fairgrounds winners circles by taking a 2:04.3 decision. The Dragon Again filly, trained and driven by Brickell and owned by him in partnership with Mitchell York, was 2016’s winningest 2-year-old in North America with 15 triumphs, 14 of them on the local fair circuit. This year’s she’s two-for-two at the fairs.

Another double fair winner in 2017 is the Great George Two gelding Gee Wizz George, who went the meet’s fastest trotting time, 2:05. Great George Two was 13 lengths off the pace at the quarter, but he steadily rallied into a very fast pace to win nicely for driver Brady Brown, trainer Jean Rastetter and owner Maryann Rastetter.

Hammer sent six charges to Victory Lane for the second straight week to already establish a big lead in the trainer and driver standings. One of those wins was a dead-heat victory with trotter Toolbox Tuesday, finishing even with Irish Valentine, whose driver Chris Shaw, with six wins and trainer/brother Jason, with five victories, are second and third to Hammer in the early statistics.

The Pa. fair circuit now heads back out west for two days of competition at The Big Butler Fair on Thursday and Friday. The starting gate will be in motion at 10 a.m. on both days, with 2-year-olds Thursday and 3-year-olds Friday.