by Jeff Zidek, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Dayton, PA — Sophomores were featured at the Dayton, Pa., Fairgrounds in PA Sire Stake action on Sunday (July 17).

Bay Ridge scored for the first time this season in the first race for filly trotters. The Jeff Indof-trainee, by Tom Ridge, trotted in 2:05.1 for catch-driver Steve Schoeffel. In the second filly division, Cameron County won for the first time in her career for trainer John McMullen and driver Wilbur Yoder. The Sierra Kosmos filly went wire-to-wire in 2:09.1. The third division brought one of the day’s closest finishes, as Ameronica (American Winner) narrowly held off a determined charge by Vertical Takeoff (Broadway Hall) in 2:07.2. Mike Gillock trains the winner, while Wayne Long picked up the winning drive. The final filly trot was won by Norma Jean Hall, driven by Brady Brown for trainer Dan Walski and WWW Ventures. The Tom Ridge filly swept the pack three-wide around the last turn to win in 2:08.3.

Three groups of colt trotters were up next, with victories earned by Otto (Tagliabue), Cadence Hall (Chip Chip Hooray) and Georgian Diablo (Great George Two). Otto trotted the mile in 2:04.4 for driver Al Manke and trainer Marty Wollam. Cadence Hall was a 2:08.2 come-from-behind winner for trainer/driver Bill Daugherty in 2:08.2. Daugherty also guided Georgian Diablo to the win, timed in 2:09.4. His son, Jim, owns and trains.

In the first filly pacing split, Livinwell Hanover scored in 2:02.3 for trainer/driver Paul Moore. It was the second fair win this year for the filly by The Panderosa. Bliss My Britches won the second split for trainer Jason Shaw and driver Chris Shaw. The Blissfull Hall filly paced in 2:05.1. Another Bliss, also by Blissfull Hall, won the third division in 2:05 for driver Steve Schoeffel and trainer Lisa Beinhauer.

The day’s closest finish came in the first division of the PASS 3-year-old colt pace. Ya Gotta Go got up on the far outside in the final stride to win in 2:03.3, getting up over DVC Holdnitsteady (Arturo), who was game on the outside for the final half-mile. The top four finishers were separated by just over a neck at the wire. Ya Gotta Go is trained by Mike Gillock and was driven by Wayne Long. Jason and Chris Shaw picked up their second win of the day as Stripe’n Star won the second colt pacing event in 2:03.3. Stripe’n Star is a gelding by No Pan Intended. The third colt pacing event was won by Acardi (McArdle) in 2:04.2. Joe Offutt trains, while son Timmy Offutt was in the bike. Finally, the meet concluded with a victory by Evening Shadows, driven by Wilbur Yoder. The Blissfull Hall gelding paced the mile in 2:03.3 for his first win this season for owner/trainer Charles Von See.

For video highlights, visit www.youtube.com/pafairs.

Action on the circuit picks up on Wednesday (July 20) at the Lycoming County Fair in Hughesville, near Williamsport.