by Jeff Zidek, information specialist, Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Dayton, PA — The two-day Sire Stake meet at the Dayton, Pennsylvania fairgrounds concluded on Sunday (July 18) with sophomores in action in 14 heats.

In the first $3,941 division of the 3-year-old PA Sire Stake colt trot, RT Picaadilly was a wire-to-wire winner in 2:06.1 for trainer/driver Bobby Rougeaux. Owned by the Brocious Racing Stable, the Ebanks gelding won for the third time this season.

In the second division, owner/driver Kyle Bolon guided North Broadway to victory from the pocket in 2:05.1. Rod Bolon trains the Broadway Hall colt, who won for the first time in 13 starts this season.

Another first time winner this season, KT Justin A Moment (Super Vintage), crossed the wire in 2:06 in the final colt trotting split. Eddie McNeight drove the winner for owner/trainer Ken Weaver.

Ryan Zidek photo

Allamatt was a 2:03.4 winner in the first division of the 3-year-old colt pace.

In the first division of the sophomore colt pace, Allamatt, making his first fair start for owner Bob Key, was a 2:03.4 winner, holding off a challenge from SJ’s Blissful Guy (Blissfull Hall). The pair battled through fractions of :29.4, :58.4 and 1:29.4 before slowing to a :34 final panel. Rich Gillock trains the Allamerican Native colt, and Wilbur Yoder picked up the winning catch-drive.

Yuma Hanover ran his win streak to two with a victory in the second grouping, going wire-to-wire in 2:03.2. Sherry Libengood owns and trains the Real Artist gelding, while Kim Good was the winning driver.

In the third division, Straight Character (Shady Character) opened an early lead through fractions of :30.3, :59.4 and 1:29.2, while locally trained McDickerson (McArdle) was locked in for much of the mile by a horse parked on his outside. Driver Eric Neal got to the outside just before the three-quarter pole and made up all of the necessary ground to win in 2:00.3. Trainer Randy Neal co-owns with his father, Cliff.

The Neal Stable made it back-to-back wins when Grand Central won her first race in 11 starts this year, pacing in 2:04.1 in the first filly pacing division. Grand Central is a daughter of Four Starzzz Shark.

In the second filly pacing division, I’m Notbad Hanover survived a break in the stretch for a 2:04.2 victory. Steve Schoeffel trains and drove the winner for owners Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Marian Schilling and Ryan Zidek.

Eric and Randy Neal picked up their third driving and training wins of the day, respectively, in the third filly pace, as Variance Hanover (The Panderosa) was a 2:08.1 winner. Eric Neal and Shainah Rugh own the filly.

The final filly pacing group was led across the wire by SJ’s Blissful Lady (Blissfull Hall), who paced the mile in 2:05.4 for driver Chris Shaw. S&J Racing, LLC own the winner, while Terry Altmeyer was the winning trainer.

The last event of the day was the sophomore colt trot, broken into four $3,000 divisions. In the first, it was another win for the Neal Stable, this time with Randy Neal at the lines as Cummingsandgoings was a 2:08.4 winner. The SJ’s Caviar filly is owned by Randy and Cliff Neal.

In the second division, Keystone Fling scored in 2:08.3 for Schoeffel. The Donerail filly is owned by Stephen Lander, Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel.

Trainer Boots Dunn and driver Roger Hammer concluded the day with a pair of wins, as Cantab Lady (Cantab Hall) and Caviar And Kisses (SJ’s Caviar) each were winners. Cantab Lady won in 2:06.2, while Caviar And Kisses was a 2:08.1 winner. Both fillies are owned by the Dunn Stable.

The circuit now moves on to the Lycoming County Fair in Hughesville, with action on Wednesday and Thursday.

For video highlights from the PA Fairs, visit www.youtube.com/phrc08.