by Jeff Zidek, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Butler, PA — The three-day race meet at the Big Butler Fairgrounds in Butler, Pa., concluded on Saturday (July 2) with five Quaker Stake events for 2- and 3-year-olds.

In the Quaker 2-year-old pace, Seth First, a colt by Stonebridge Regal, recovered from a break just past the half-mile pole to record the win in his first career start, pacing in 2:07.2. Seth, Dorothy and Fred Dowling own the winner, while Steve Schoeffel trains and was in the bike.

Two groups of 3-year-old Quaker trotters were up next, with victories earned by Ohno U Just Didn’t and Georgian Diablo. Ohno U Just Didn’t, owned by Shaunna Morris, trotted in 2:10.3 for driver Brad Provost. Jim Rothfuss trains the Donerail filly.

In the colt division, Georgian Diablo was a wire-to-wire winner in 2:12, sprinting home in :30 after slowing the tempo through the first three-quarters of the mile. Jim Daugherty owns, trains and drove the Great George Two gelding.

In the lone division of the 3-year-old Quaker pace, SJ’s Patriot, owned by S&J Racing, was a winner for trainer/driver Terry Altmeyer. A Blissfull Hall gelding, SJ’s Patriot covered the mile in 2:05.2.

For the first time in many years, there was just one entrant in the box for the Quaker 2-year-old trot. High Heels Hanover, an Andover Hall filly, had a walkover for the full $2,413 purse. Trainer/driver Steve Schoeffel guided the filly home in 2:13.2 for her first career victory. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel, Jim Reuther and Roger Romesser own the filly.

To watch highlights from racing at Butler, click here. Highlights from PA Fair action throughout the summer can be found at www.youtube.com/pafairs.

The circuit next moves on to Gratz in Dauphin County, where two days of Sire Stake events will be held next weekend, July 9-10.