by Jeff Zidek, for the PA Harness Racing Commission

Butler, PA — Nine groups of freshmen faced the starter in Pennsylvania Sire Stake action at the Big Butler Fair in Butler, PA on Thursday.

Trainer/driver Bill Daugherty, Jr captured the day’s first – and richest – race, the $11,588 2YO filly trot, with Magnolia Grace. The Glidemaster filly, owned by Jack and Sharon Claypoole, scored in 2:10 for her first career win.

Daugherty then made it two in a row to start the day when he guided Bob And Bobby, owned by Susan Daugherty, to a 2:10 win in the first 2YO colt trotting division. A gelded son of Andover Hall, Bob And Bobby sat second through the first half-mile before moving to the lead near the three-quarter pole.

In the other colt trotting event, Redder Than Red (SJ’s Caviar) kept his perfect record intact, following a dead-heat win in his debut on Saturday at Meadville with a 2:12.3 victory at Butler. Brian Zendt drove the winner for trainer Boots Dunn. Side Ways, driven by Chris Shaw, cut the fractions and held on for a close second.

Three divisions of the 2YO filly pace were up next, named in honor of the late Terry Schoeffel, a longtime Butler horseman and President of the PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association. Roger Hammer won all three splits with horses from his own barn – Hot Latte (2:06.3), Paints Hall (2:07.2) and Serenity Breeze (2:08). Following the races, Hammer gave the Terry Schoeffel Memorial blanket to Schoeffel’s granddaughter, Brooke.

The day’s final three races were for freshmen colt pacers. In the first division, Al Manke guided Thisoneandonemore to a 2:05.4 win. A son of Blissfull Hall, Thisoneandonemore is owned by Peggy Sheehan and trained by Marty Wollam.

The last two divisions were captured by the trainer/driver combination of Don Lark, Jr and Wilbur Yoder. Lark’s Village Jolt colt Danger Hi Joltage won the second division in 2:08 with Yoder in the bike, then the duo came right back in the final race with Strother, a son of Yankee Cruiser. The winning time was 2:09.1.

3-year-olds will be in action in PASS races at Butler on Thursday morning at 11 AM. Eleven races are scheduled.

For video highlights from the PA Fair Circuit, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.