by Bill Peters

Hillsdale, MI — The 2011 Michigan fair harness racing season came to a close on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 2) with a 13-race Bronze Circuit program at the Hillsdale County Fair at Hillsdale. Sunny skies offset the cool, fall weather to make an enjoyable day of racing. The track crew did a tremendous job to get the track in racing condition after several days of rain.

Pauline Stirrett’s Country Mint (Coventry-Party Mint) took the fastest division of the 2-year-old filly trot in 2:15.4. Walter Beagle is the trainer-driver of the filly. Joe Casagranda piloted Bold Vision (Keystone Nordic-Goma Haley) to victory in the other split with a 2:16.4 mile. Kristy Casagranda does the training of Bold Vision with Jim Mayes paying the bills.

The combination of trainer Mike Sweeney and driver Jeff Sweeney picked up the first of their five victories on the program by capturing the fastest division of the 2-year-old colt trot with Quik Start (Lockkeeper-Quik Rova) in 2:14.3. Mike co-owns the gelding with Dave Bolenbaugh and Phil Stommen. The Sweeneys also won the second division with A Sandful Of Cash (Sand Chaser-Cashel) in 2:22.4. Mike is also a co-owner on A Sandful Of Cash along with Michael Charbonneau.

The Sweeneys were back in the winner’s circle after taking the lone division of the 2-year-old filly pace with Bittersweet Dreams (Cheyenne Rei-Bittersweet Spark). Mike Sweeney co-owns the filly with Steve Hanbury. Bittersweet Dreams toured the Hillsdale oval in 2:12.3.

Carl Putnam, Jr. steered Silver Spir (Cheyenne Rei-Spur’s Galley) to victory in the fastest split of the 2-year-old colt pace. Gerald Mijal is the owner-trainer of the gelding, who took 2:11.2 to complete his mile. Greybeard (Admirals Galley-Red Star) won the other division in 2:12.1 for owner-trainer Jack Detgen and driver Brian Detgen.

The Sweeneys were back at it again by winning the sole division of the 3-year-old filly trot with A Cool Million (Keystone Nordic-Primrose Hanover) in 2:11.4. Mike Sweeney shares the expenses on A Cool Million with Francis Kayden.

Driver Randy Lake found the winner’s circle after Rayjean Luke (Approved Action-Pv Sandy) took the fastest division of the 3-year-old colt trot in 2:12.2. Toni Langhann is the gelding’s owner-trainer. Lynn Wilson’s Moose Hunter (Lockkeeper-Lone Star Sport) was victorious in the other split with a 2:13 mile. Henry Wilson is the trainer-driver of Moose Hunter.

The Sweeneys made their final appearance in the winner’s circle after nailing down the only division of the 3-year-old filly pace with Long May She Reign (Cheyenne Rei-Pegasus Princess). Mike Sweeney co-owns the filly with Robert Turak. Long May She Reign took 2:08.4 to circle the Hillsdale twice-around.

Todd Gilbert’s Cinch Me Up (Cheyenne Rei-Under Priced) won the fastest split of the 3-year-old colt pace in 2:06.4. Pam Shields trains the gelding with Paul Cloer, Jr. picking up the winning catch-drive. Cinch Me Up’s win was also the fastest mile of the week at the Hillsdale County Fair. Six Gun (Gunthatwonthewest-Kehmercial) closed out the afternoon’s program and also the Michigan fair season by capturing the second division of the 3-year-old colt pace in 2:08.1. Gerald Mijal is the owner-trainer of Six Gun with Carl Putnam, Jr. providing the driving services.