Clearfield, PA – The Greenshoe sophomore gelding Tymal Kryptonite trotted the half-mile Clearfield (PA) half-mile oval in 2:01.2 on Monday afternoon (July 20), equaling the fastest trotting mile ever at this fairgrounds oval located two hours northeast of Pittsburgh.
The 2:01.2 clocking kept the Clearfield trotting standard “all in the family,” as it was just under six years ago that Stickler Hanover, also a sophomore male, first established the all-age track record. Both “Stickler” and “Kryptonite” won for trainer driver Steve Schoefflel, and Steve’s wife Kathy shared ownership in both; in Tymal Kryptonite, she has Lewis Falton as her partner.
The trotter was not chased very hard in the stretch, achieving the record clocking largely on his own. It was Tymal Kryptonite’s third win in as many starts at the fairs; he won in 1:56 earlier at The Meadows.
The quicker division of the trotting fillies was won by Cocktail Captain, a Stallion Series winner, in 2:03.1, ahead of PA Patricia, the 2025 divisional champion making her fair bow this year. Cocktail Captain, perfect in two fair starts, was driven by Aaron Johnston for trainer Nathan Bresnahan and owner Matthew Miller.
The sophomore pacers raced on a twilight card to close out the four-day meet Tuesday (July 21) – Clearfield is the only remaining Keystone State fair to hold a meeting of more than two days. The Captaintreacherous gelding Odds On Favorite became the first horse with two 2:00 miles on the circuit this year as he won in 1:59.1 for driver Mike Wilder, trainer Dan Altmeyer, and owner Steven McCoy while unbeaten in three starts over the twice arounds.
The “claimer,” Lovebug Hanover, continued to show herself as a great investment by winning the quicker filly pace in 2:01.1. Haltered for $27,000 at The Meadows after winning in 1:52.1 the week before (she won the night of her transfer in 1:52.2), the Tall Dark Stranger miss has two wins in as many fair starts for driver Kyle Bolon, trainer Richard Johnson, and PT Stable.
The one “down” note at Clearfield was that the 2-year-old trotters were rained out of their Saturday (July 18) twilight card; however, the freshman pacers were in action the next afternoon. An odd statistic of that day is that the fastest mile of the day came in a “B” Fair Sire Stakes section, a 2:03.4 triumph for the Captain Crunch – Fast Machine gelding Fast Crunch for driver-trainer Steven Walters and owner David Bellantonio.
Both of the “A” colt divisions had their highlights. One was from Kurt, an Always B Miki – Cheyenne Deo colt who is undefeated for his career, all three Fair Sires starts, for driver Aaron Johnston, trainer Bill Daugherty Jr. and owner Stephen Brochu. The other came when the Captain Crunch – Crazy Love Bug gelding Good As Goldin checked home first for driver Wayne Long and trainer-owner Alexandra Goldin; among the conquered were Lucas Hanover, who before this meet had been the only three-time “A” Fair winner, and now sits tied with the others mentioned in this story.
Not to forget the ladies: sophomore filly pacer Unreal Appeal Sgt was fastest in her sector, a 2:04.1 victory from the daughter of Papi Rob Hanover – Ideal Appeal for the ownership team of trainer Linda and driver-husband Tony Schadel.
The riches were divided out fairly evenly at Clearfield. Wayne Long was a narrow winner in the chase for the annual Buster DiSalvo trophy, with his four sulky successes one ahead of Todd Schadel, while Todd’s busy barn harnessed five Clearfield winners to take down training honors.
The fields have already been drawn for the next stop on the PA fair circuit, at Bedford on Thursday(July 23) and Friday (July 24), with first post 3 p.m. each day. After that comes the Somerset County Fair at Meyersdale, which races Wednesday (July 29) and Thursday (July 30), both days at 1 p.m. Both cards will be drawn according to normal procedure on Monday morning.