by Jerry Connors, for the PA Harness Racing Commission

Washington, PA — Monroe County notched her second all-age track record of the fair season and her fourth record in the 3-year-old trotting filly ranks as she trotted the fastest mile of the 2013 Keystone twicearound season on Monday afternoon at the Washington (PA) Fair, “Arden Downs” to many oldtimers, in a shocking 2:00.1.

The daughter of Glidemaster, handled by Wilbur Yoder for trainer John McMullen, Jr., also co-owner with Michelle McMullen, never looked back in the record mile, being nursed early to a :31 opening quarter, then turning on the afterburners to freeze the watch at 1:00.3, 1:30.3, and then the 2:00.1 final number.

The swift clocking reduced the 15-year-old all-age record of fellow sophomore K T Junior by four-fifths of a second; the former 3-year-old trotting filly mark of 2:02.3, set in 1997 by Red Oak’s Silk and equaled in 2010 by Caviar And Kisses, obviously went by the board as well.

Monroe County previously equaled the all-age standard of 2:02.3 at Meadville, and had also set divisional marks at Dayton and Hughesville. Monday’s clocking was, as noted, also by far the fastest diamondgaited mile at the PA fairs in 2013; Roe Is Me had held that standard at 2:01.3 at Gratz.

Next in line under the equine spotlight would be In A Better Place, who became the first horse to parade back to Victory Lane seven times at the fairs when she won the fastest division of the 3-year-old filly pace in 2:01.1. The daughter of Christian Cullen was driven by Chris Shaw for trainer/brother Jason and owner Amanda Beinhauer.

Speaking of all-age track recordsetters: the other such horse of the fair season, She’salilfireball, was upset in another cut of this stake, dubbed the ”Who’s Hottest?” Pace after Burn Time Hanover and rare fair visitor Randy Tharps took the measure of the “Fireball.”

Tops among the humans was the hottest horseman of the year, Steve Schoeffel, who was under the wire first no fewer than six times on the day, including two of the four winners of the 3-year-old colt pace. Skylite’s Finale and Jungle Of Terror, both also Schoeffel trainees, maintained their one-two status at the top of their division’s standings, the former ahead by one point.

The other two sections of the “glamour division” were taken by Roger Hammer, with Enjoy The Ride and Camturo Beach, the latter turning in the day’s fastest clocking, 1:59.

Prince Lauxmont remained undefeated in five fair starts as he won in the 3-year-old colt trot division for the Wayne Long stable, but a late developer to watch is Southwind Glider, two for two since teamed with Hammer in the sulky, winning here in a personal best 2:02.2.

The 2-year-olds are scheduled for action Tuesday over the former Grand Circuit track, with post time at Washington being 10 a.m.