by Jerry Connors, for the PA Harness Racing Commission

Prospect PA — The first harness horse to earn a check in North America on Friday, Jungle Of Terror, also became the first three-time winner on the Pennsylvania fair circuit this year when he won the 9 a.m. opener at the Big Butler Fair on Friday (June 28) morning.

The sophomore Western Terror gelding traversed the Butler twicearound, officially rated good with a three second variant, in 2:05.1, respectable enough considering Thursday’s card had been washed out. Jungle Of Terror continued the domination of Team Schoeffel so far in the young season — Steve trains and drives, and his wife Kathy and mother Virginia own the victorious altered pacer with Stephen Lander.

Fastest mile of the “glamour division” came from Dinger One, who stopped the timer in 2:04 for driver James Dodson. The son of Art’s Card Trick is owned and trained by Ron Lineweaver.

2012 Fair Championship winner Mein Schatz notched his first win of the year in the other cut, reporting home first in 2:05.3 for trainer/driver Aaron Johnston. James Biego owns the Real Desire gelding.

The legendary Walter “Boots” Dunn accounted for two divisions of the 3-year-old colt trot with Brian Zendt-driven geldings that he owns and trains: Ruddy Rusty, a son of SJ’s Caviar who triumphed in 2:06.3, and Classicality, a Classic Photo gelding home first in 2:08.1.

The other split was taken by Luke Icewalker, the Garth Vader gelding using his force in 2:08.2 to give driver Schoeffel two of the first six, with training handled by Mike Gillock for owners Barbara and James Richardson and Rich Gillock.

Dunn and Zendt reteamed for victory in one split of the 3-year-old filly trot with Lindyofalifetime, a Cantab Hall filly first to the wire in 2:07. In the other, the Glidemaster miss Monroe County, who equaled the all-age track trot mark at Meadville (Boots’ home track) last week, won again, here in 2:06 for trainer John McMullen, Jr., co-owner with Michelle McMullen, giving Aaron Johnston a second winning sulky spin on the day.

She’salilfireball, the terror of the fair circuit the first two weeks, did not go to Butler, a factor undoubtedly welcomed by the three winners of the 3-year-old pacing filly divisions. Fastest was the Somebeachsomewhere distaff Naked At The Beach, tacking a :29.1 kicker on the end of her 2:03.4 mile for driver Chris Shaw, trainer Dan Walski and owner Howard Millhine.

Chris Shaw captured another split of this class for brother/trainer Jason with the Christian Cullen miss In A Better Place, a 2:04 winner for owner Amanda Beinhauer.

Also parading back first was the Magical Mike miss DVC Jaded Attitude, with a 1:00.3 back half in her 2:04.2 mile that allowed owner/trainer/driver Dave Brickell to continue his early-season winning ways.

Finishing Lines: Weather permitting, there will be Quaker State Stakes action at Butler Saturday at 9 a.m.

Though Butler morning action was rained out Thursday, freshman races at Pocono were not and “p,2,1:53.1f” now rests behind the name Westward Hanover, a Somebeachsomewhere colt out of Western Duel, who has produced five $100,000 winners, as he posted that dazzling clocking for trainer-driver Joe Pavia Jr.

And the first shall remain the leader: We noted Jungle Of Terror was now three for three on the 2013 PA fair circuit after his first race win Friday; at card’s end, he stands as the only triple fair winner among the equine set.