by Jeff Zidek, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Dayton, PA — Fifteen stake events opened the two-day Pennsylvania Sire Stake meet at the Dayton Fairgrounds in Dayton, Pa. The 2-year-olds were featured on the Saturday (July 16) card.

The day started with the afternoon’s two richest events, divisions of the PASS filly trot, each for a purse of $5,994. The Raincatcher (SJ’s Caviar), trained by Terry Altmeyer and driven by Steve Schoeffel, won the first race in 2:08.2. In the second split, another daughter of SJ’s Caviar, Wellwisher Hanover, scored in 2:09.2 in her career debut for trainer Joe Offutt and driver Timmy Offutt.

Four groups of colt trotters were up next and four different sires saw their sons reach the winner’s circle. First up was Sharpshooter G, a Broadway Hall colt. Roger Hammer drove the winner for trainer Boots Dunn, timed in 2:08.4. Bob And Bobby (Andover Hall) recorded his second win of the season in the second division, crossing the wire in 2:08.4 for trainer/driver Bill Daugherty. In the third division, Daugherty returned to the winner’s circle, this time with MM’s Yankee, by Malabar Millennium. The winning time was 2:07.4. In the final split, Island Gillie won his career debut for trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel. The Tom Ridge gelding trotted in 2:09.1.

Five groups of freshman filly pacers dominated the middle portion of the card as Shootoutthelights captured the first division in 2:05.2. Roger Hammer trains and reined the Dragon Again filly. In the second division, Dream Of Winning was an upset winner for trainer/driver Aaron Johnston. The Yankee Cruiser filly earned her first career victory, pacing in 2:04.4. Caribe (Yankee Cruiser) won the third split for trainer/driver David Brickell in 2:04.4, equaling the day’s fastest mile to that point. The mark wouldn’t hold up, as Nuclear Photo paced in 2:02.3 to win the fourth division for the Joe and Timmy Offutt combination. For Nuclear Photo, a daughter of Nuclear Breeze, it was her first career win. Hammer picked up his second training win and third driving victory of the day in the final filly event, as Hot Latte won for the third time in four career starts. The Nuclear Breeze filly paced in 2:09.3.

Four groups of colt pacers closed out the afternoon, with yet another Nuclear Breeze winning the first division. This time, it was Nate Breeze winning for Hammer in 2:03.4. Dalton Hanover, a son of The Panderosa, captured the second division for trainer Bob Krenitsky, Jr., pacing in 2:09.1. David Brickell picked up the winning catch drive. In the third split, Its Your Time, a son of Allamerican Native, won his career debut for trainer Kris Hite and driver Steve Schoeffel. The winning time was 2:07.1. Brickell and Krenitsky teamed up one more time to win the day’s final race, as Let’s Cruise (Yankee Cruiser) scored in 2:04.3.

Action at Dayton continues on Sunday, with 14 Sire Stakes for sophomores beginning at 1 p.m.