from the PA Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Washington, PA — Arden Downs, the half-mile track that was formerly a stop on the Grand Circuit, is located at the Washington County (PA) Fairgrounds, not far down the road from The Meadows, where a two-day PA Fair Sire Stakes meet was conducted at the start of this week.

Monday’s (Aug. 13) racing was given over to the 3-year-olds, and not unexpectedly it produced the fastest mile of the meeting, a 2:00.3 victory by the Well Said gelding Choreographer. Second to Marvalous Falcon in his 2018 fair debut at Waynesburg, here he turned the tables on that foe for driver Cory Kreiser, trainer Marcus Marashian, and owner Robert Key.

Earlier in the card winning streaks were furthered by horses who turned in 2:02.4 miles. The first was the Cantab Hall trotting gelding Willie B Worthy, who now has three straight wins on the half-mile circuit for driver Aaron Johnston and owner/trainer Lisa Dunn.

The Delmarvalous pacing miss Marvalous Song stretched her own current win skein to four as she reported home first for Team Shaw — driver Chris, trainer Jason, and owner Mason.

Fastest trotter of the meet was the Donato Hanover filly Worldly Hanover, who toured the Washington layout in 2:02.3 for trainer/driver Harold Brocklehurst and the ownership of Double R Farms, David Obley, and Richard Williams.

On Tuesday (Aug. 14) among the freshmen, best mile of the day was turned in by the Delamarvalous–Treasure Valley colt Next Shot, who won his second straight, third at the fairs, and fourth overall in 2:02.3 for Cory Kreiser, his owner, and more importantly here, his driver/trainer because this victory gave Kreiser his fourth sulky success and third conditioning triumph of the Washington session, enabling him to take top honors on both counts.

Seth Dowling photo

Dancin With Rose gave Justin Lebo his first driving victory during Tuesday’s card.

The trotting highlight focused on Justin Lebo, who scored his first career driving victory behind Dancin With Rose.

Lebo has taken a very limited role in the sulky while training a small but successful stable up until this year, when he decided to increase his sulky efforts. Usually you don’t compile a seasonal .311 UDR in 20 starts without a victory, but seven seconds and six thirds showed that Lebo was on the brink, and he made the breakthrough at Washington on Tuesday.

The Pennsylvania Fair circuit now moves on to Dayton in Armstrong County, where a completely new set of horses will race Wednesday (3-year-olds) and Thursday (2-year-olds), as Pennsylvania Fair rules require a three-day period from start to start.