by Jeff Zidek, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission
Clearfield, PA — 3-year-old pacers took to the track to complete the four-day race meet at the Clearfield County Fairgrounds in Clearfield, PA.
Two Quaker Stakes started the card, and Metrodisle survived all challenges to win the first race in 2:05.3 for driver Timmy Offutt. Trainer Joe Offutt co-owns the Metropolitan filly with Samuel Stoltzfus.
The Offutts then completed the Quaker sweep when All Day Pass (Allamerican Ingot), owned by Chris Offutt, won the second race in 2:04.
The remainder of the card featured Pennsylvania Sire Stake action, and Caramel Chinno opened that portion of the day with a 2:01 win in a sophomore filly pace. Owned, trained and driven by Roger Hammer, Caramel Chinno (Allamerican Native) won for the fifth time in 15 starts this season.
In the second split, Last Minute Cindy scored in 2:03.3 for catch-driver Chris Shaw. Owned by trainer Syl King along with Joseph Benedetti and Ron Silletto, Last Minute Cindy, a daughter of Metropolitan, set a new lifetime mark with the effort.
Next up, Liqueur won for the first time this season, pacing in 2:02.1 for Timmy Offutt. Sherry Libengood owns and trains the winner, a daughter of Arturo.
The day’s final division of the filly pace was captured by Crafty Friend, as 18-year-old Shawn Johnston recorded the first driving victory of his career. James and JR Brewer own Crafty Friend (Allamerican Ingot), who paced the mile in 2:04.
Four divisions of the PASS 3-year-old colt pace concluded the day, and Acardi was strong in the first division. The McArdle gelding went right to the lead and held off all comers, pacing in 2:03.1 for Timmy Offutt. Joe and Karen Offutt own the now four-time winner on the season.
Chris Shaw picked up his second driving win of the day when Stripe’n Star won his colt pacing split in 2:01.1. Jason Shaw owns and trains the No Pan Intended gelding.
The meet ended with Evening Shadows pacing in 2:02.4 to cruise to victory in the final colt pace. A son of Blissfull Hall, Evening Shadows has now won four in a row for owner/trainer Charles Von See and driver David Brickell.
After the races, the Buster DeSalvo trophy was presented to the meet’s leading driver, Timmy Offutt. The 29-year-old reinsman from Maryland drove eight winners during the meet, and became the youngest driver ever to win the DeSalvo Award, a longstanding tradition at the Central Pennsylvania oval.
Highlights from Clearfield can be found at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqvKI9hWXQc.
Racing in Pennsylvania will now split into two venues, with racing next week at both Honesdale in Wayne County (Tuesday-Thursday) and Waynesburg in Greene County (Wednesday-Thursday).