by Jeff Zidek, information specialist, Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Stoneboro, PA — The Great Stoneboro Fairgrounds opened its two-day harness racing meet in Mercer County, Pennsylvania on Sunday (Sept. 5) with 17 stakes events for freshmen.

Four divisions of PA Sire Stake filly trotters were up first, and Arizona Miss (SJ’s Caviar) was a 2:08.3 winner in the opener for driver Roger Hammer. Mervin Wengerd owns the filly, now a winner of five races in nine starts. The second division was captured by Filly Bay (Chip Chip Hooray) and driver Bill Fahy in 2:07.1. Moira Fahy owns the filly. Hammer picked up his second win of the day in the third race, as Ameronica set a new lifetime mark with a 2:07.3 win. Barbara Richardson and Rich Gillock own the American Winner filly. In the final division, Girls Getaway was a winner for driver Chris Shaw and the Bill and Terry Altmeyer Stable. Girls Getaway (Donerail) trotted her mile in 2:06.2.

Ya Gotta Go was a 2:02.2 victor for driver Wilbur Yoder.

The next four races were for colt pacers in PASS action and Ya Gotta Go was a 2:02.2 winner for Gillock and driver Wilbur Yoder in the first split. Ya Gotta Go is a gelded son of Metropolitan. The second division was all Stripe’n Star, as the No Pan Intended gelding backed off the half to 1:06.3 and sprinted home in :59.3 for a 2:06.1 mile. Jason Shaw owns and trains while his brother, Chris, picked up his second winning drive of the day. The third group winner was Fast Heat, now a winner of three out of his last four starts for owner Anne McDonald. Chris Offutt guided the gelding, a son of The Panderosa, to a 2:03.4 time. In the final division, Keystone Reactor (Dragon Again) held off several challenges to win in 2:04 for owner/driver Cory Kreiser. The final time was 2:04.

Three divisions of the PASS colt trot were next, with wins going to Otto (Tagliabue), Greatest Hits (Great George Two) and Cadence Hall (Chip Chip Hooray). Otto, owned by Patricia Wollam and Acadia Farms, was a 2:06.2 winner for Marty Wollam. Greatest Hits, owned by Bryce and Cindy Truitt in partnership with Teddy and Joyce Baker, broke his maden with a 2:08.4 win with Bryce Truitt in the bike. Cadence Hall, with Bill Daugherty at the lines for owner Susan Daugherty, won for the seventh time in 12 starts by covering the mile in 2:06.3.

Ryan Zidek photos

Caramel Chinno and Roger Hammer were 2:03.2 winners.

Three groups of freshman filly pacers battled in PASS action, and two of the best on the circuit squared off in the opening division. In the end, Caramel Chinno (Allamerican Native) held off DVC Hopnattitude (Magical Mike) and driver David Brickell in 2:03.2. Caramel Chinno is owned, trained and was driven by Roger Hammer. Hammer then took the second split with another member of his stable, My Gal Hannah. The Metropolitan filly paced in 2:03.1 for her eighth win in 11 starts. Hammer made it a clean sweep as Wishfullartist (Real Artist) won the third division in 2:04.2. All three fillies are homebreds.

In the lone division of the Quaker Trot, Juniata County was a 2:11 winner for owners John and Michelle McMullen. Wilbur Yoder was in the bike for his second win of the day as the Chip Chip Hooray filly became a five-time winner in 2010.

Two groups of Quaker pacers ended the day, and Born For Speed was a winner in the first division in 2:05.4. Martin Baxendell owns the Stand Forever gelding, while Yoder earned the winning drive. Chris Shaw ended the day with another driving victory behind Bermuda Rough in the final race. Bermuda Rough (Allamerican Ingot), owned and trained by Jason Shaw, paced the mile in 2:11.2.

Sixteen stakes events for sophomores are on tap for the annual Labor Day card at Stoneboro on Monday. For video highlights from the circuit, visit www.pafairharness.com.