by Jeff Zidek, for the PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Gratz, PA — Todd Schadel picked up four victories on his home track as the Pennsylvania Fair Circuit visited the Gratz Fairgrounds in Dauphin County, Pa., near Harrisburg.

Two-year-olds were featured on the Sunday (Sept. 16) card and three Quaker Stakes opened the day’s action.

In the lone Quaker Pace, New Jennaration LLC’s Dixie Terror (Western Terror) was a 2:08.1 winner. Trainer/driver Travis Kolaczynski backed off the half to 1:07.4 and came home in 1:00.2 for the three-plus length win.

Two groups of Quaker trotters were next, with victories earned by Easter Leggs (Malabar Millennium) and VC Eclipse (Donato Hanover). Easter Leggs took a pocket trip to the winner’s circle for driver Brady Brown and trainer Terry Altmeyer. Bill Altmeyer and Laura Oldin own the filly.

VC Eclipse was sitting second, 14 lengths behind the frontrunner, but had the lead just past the three-quarter pole and went on to win by 18 lengths. After a 1:03.3 opening half, the time for the mile was 2:10.2. Maria Lewis and Karen Offutt own VC Eclipse, while Joe Offutt trains. Timmy Offutt was the winning driver.

The remainder of the card featured PA Sire Stake action, and three groups of filly pacer were up first. Wicked Elphaba (Western Terror) made a three-wide move for driver Lewayne Miller and went on to a 2:01 win, a new lifetime mark. Tanah Merah Farms owns the filly, while Ervin Miller trains.

Schadel picked up his first win of the card in the second filly pacing split, as Keystone Wanda won in 1:59.2, the fastest of the day. Todd and Christine Schadel own the Somebeachsomewhere filly.

In the final division, In A Better Place (Christian Cullen) scored in 2:00.3 for driver Chris Shaw. Amanda Beinhauer owns, while Jason Shaw trains.

Three $4,100 divisions of filly trotters were next on the card and Lady Broadway continued her dominance over the division, winning the first event by over four lengths for driver Bryce Truitt. The Broadway Hall filly crossed the wire in 2:04.1 for Truitt and trainer John McMullen, who co-owns with Michelle McMullen.

In the second division, Chrissy O (Broadway Hall) crossed the wire 10 lengths ahead of her nearest competitor, but was disqualified for interference in the first turn. Placed the winner was Solicitation (Tom Ridge), driven by Roger Hammer, who co-owns with Todd Schadel. Hammer does the training. Solicitation went her mile in 2:06.

The final group was led to the wire by Oh Oh It’s Lindy (Cantab Hall) and Todd Schadel. The winning time was 2:08.4 for the filly, owned by Todd and Christine Schadel.

Two $6,155 divisions of the colt pace were contested, and Cruising Machine made a three-wide move around the last turn, coming on to win by a neck in 2:02 for trainer/driver Aaron Johnston. Tracy Chropek and Gary Johnston own the Yankee Cruiser filly.

Johnston then made it a sweep of the division, guiding Mein Schatz (Real Desire) to a 2:01 win in the second split for owner Jim Biego. Mein Schatz came from seventh at the half to earn a four length win.

Freshman colt trotters completed the day and the first two divisions went to top prospects from the Todd Schadel barn. Keystone Bolt (Cantab Hall) went wire-to-wire by 11 lengths in 2:01.2, then stablemate Markup Hanover (Cantab Hall) was a 23 length winner in 2:01.3. Todd and Christine Schadel own Keystone Bolt, while Todd co-owns Markup Hanover with James Simpson.

The final race was captured by BSMaximummoondream (Bedford County), a 2:05.2 winner for trainer/driver Dave Brickell, who co-owns with Sue Brickell.

Three-year-olds will compete at Gratz on Monday. Post time is at 12 noon.

For photos, video and information from the PA Fair Circuit, visit the Standardbred Breeders of PA website, www.standardbredbreederspa.org or the PA Fair Horsemen’s website, www.pafairharness.com.