by Jeff Zidek

Dayton, PA — 3-year-olds competed in 15 stake events at the Dayton Fairgrounds in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania before one of the largest crowds of the season on the PA Fair Circuit.

North Broadway captured the first race, a $5,887 division of the PA Sire Stake 3YO Colt Trot. Rod Bolon trains and was in the bike behind the Broadway Hall colt, owned by his son, Kyle.The winning time was 2:05.4. In the second colt trotting division, Mr McRail, catch-driven by Timmy Offutt, was a 2:04.2 winner. A Donerail gelding, Mr McRail is owned by Jack and Sharon Claypoole and trained by Sherry Libengood.

Four groups of 3YO filly trotters were up next in PA Sire Stake action. Caviar’s Dancer (SJ’s Caviar) won the first division in 2:05.4 for driver David Brickell. Trainer Bob Krenitsky co-owns with his wife, Barbara. The second group managed to go one tick faster, as Rosey Chick, another daughter of SJ’s Caviar, stopped the timer in 2:05.3. Jack and Sharon Claypoole picked up their second win of the day as owners, while Lisa Beinhauer earned the training victory.

Sire SJ’s Caviar made it three-for-three when Cummingsandgoings won the third division, scoring in 2:06 for trainer/driver Randy Neal, who co-owns with his father, Cliff. It was the fifth win in 10 starts this season for the filly. In the final division, Caviar And Kisses made it a clean sweep for SJ’s Caviar, trotting in 2:05.3. Roger Hammer drove for the Dunn Stable and trainer Boots Dunn.

Hammer returned to the winners circle in the next race, the first of three colt pacing events, guiding Cories Artist to a 2:01.2 win. Vicki Fair owns the Real Artist gelding, now a winner of five races in 19 starts this year. In the second division, Straight Character, fresh off a track record performance at the Washington County Fair two days earlier, was able to back down the fractions and sprint home to a win. After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:34.1, the son of Shady Character, driven by Brickell, paced home in 29.1 for his eighth win of the year for owner/trainer Bob Krenitsky, Jr.

In the final colt pacing split, Yuma Hanover went wire-to-wire for owner/trainer Sherry Libengood and driver Kim Good. The Real Artist gelding paced in 2:00.4, the fastest mile of the meet.

Sire Stake action ended with three groups of sophomore pacing fillies, and Roger Hammer captured the first two with My Gal Mykenna (Real Artist) and Anxiety Hanover (The Panderosa). My Gal Mykenna led every step from the inside post, pacing in 2:02.2 for owners Hammer and Nevin Gilbert. Anxiety Hanover covered her mile in an identical time for her third victory of the season. Hammer owns all of the latter filly. In the final filly pace, SJ’s Blissful Lady scored for S&J Racing and trainer Terry Altmeyer. Chris Shaw guided the filly home in 2:04.1 over Hammer and Bliss Falcon, ending his attempt to sweep the 3YO filly pace.

In the lone division of the 3YO Quaker Trot for PA-owned or –bred horses, Lady Latke scored in 2:10.4 for owner/trainer/driver Bruce Dufford. It was her second straight win in Quaker action.

In the first division of the Quaker Pace, Quickpop was a 2:04.2 winner for owners Jason Shaw and Chad Kreiser. Jason Shaw also trains, while Chris Shaw picked up his second winning drive of the day. The final race of the day was won by Whiting Hanover (Dragon Again), a 2:04.4 winner. Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel own the gelding, while Steve Schoeffel trains and was in the bike.

The circuit take the weekend off before starting a four-day meet at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Meadville, PA on Monday. For video highlights, visit www.pafairharness.com.