By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
BEDFORD PA – The Captain Crunch sophomore pacing gelding Commander Crunch, purchased only nine days ago, equaled the all-age track record of 1:55.2 at the Bedford (PA) Fair during Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes competition for three-year-olds on Friday. 1:55.2 had been recorded by the filly Tiamogonedancen in 2021 and the gelding Captaincountrystar in 2023.
Commander Crunch, owned by trainer Jeffrey Indof along with Misty Winkler, came to the Keystone State after the transfer and promptly won at Clearfield three days ago. Then at Bedford, after fractions of :29.2, :58.3, and 1:27.2, he reached the line in record time and got two lines in the Bedford books (all-age and divisional) under the guidance of 20-year-old Jesse Barnard.
The other section of the “A” FSS for the glamour division produced a magic mile as well, a 1:58.3 mile by Ima Proud Captain which came twelve minutes too late to be the fastest mile of the year at the PA fairs. Even the “B” division saw a 2:00 mile turned in by Fourbyfourbyyou.
To round out the 3YO pacers: the quicker division of the higher filly level proved to be the third “A” fair win for Papi Knows, a 1:59.3 victory; the other section was won in 2:00.1 by Lovebug Hanover, her third “A” win since being claimed at The Meadows and her fifth straight victory overall.
But that was not the full extent of the 2:00 miles on Friday, as the Father Patrick trotting gelding Family Guy won in 2:00, fastest trotting mile of the fair season in the state. 23YO provisional driver Steven Fedokovitz had the sulky seat for trainer Steve Schoeffel – and owners Kathy Schoeffel, Brett Schoeffel, Kylee Schoeffel, and Brooke Schoeffel.
Thursday was two-year-old day at Bedford, and there was a baby who did hold the distinction of the fastest winner of the year at the fairs – for 23 hours and 24 minutes, anyway. That was the Stay Hungry – Latte Lady gelding Lucas Hanover, who won in 1:58.4 for driver Cody Schadel, trainer-father Todd, and owners Todd and Christine (Cody’s mother) Schadel. Lucas Hanover also became the first horse to get to four “A” victories on the year, and emerged the only one as no sophomore could notch a fourth fair triumph.
The two-year-old pacing filly Unreal Appeal Sgt won the faster “A” cut in her section, 2:02.2, and the triumph gave her three fair wins for 2026. Her clocking was not the fastest for her age/sex/gait, however, as Honey Roll made her career debut in a “B” division and won in 2:01.4 for 75-years-young Sam Beegle, a Bedford hometown boy.
Also deserving recognition is the two-year-old trotting colt Allmymoni Hanover, who won his “A” division in 2:02, missing his divisional record held by Super Fellow (since 1990) and Toolbox Tuesday by only 2/5 of a second.
The Schadel families were the biggest winners, as Todd both guided and sent out seven winners to lead the team of driver-husband Tony and trainer-wife Linda, who won five times.
The Pennsylvania Fair Circuit now heads to the Somerset County Fair in Meyersdale PA, just some 40 miles away in the southwestern part of the state. Post time will be at 1 p.m. for both Wednesday the 29th’s two-year-old racing and Thursday the 30th’s three-year-old action. Entries for Meyersdale are due Monday, through the usual methods.
BEDFORD PA – The Captain Crunch sophomore pacing gelding Commander Crunch, purchased only nine days ago, equaled the all-age track record of 1:55.2 at the Bedford (PA) Fair during Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes competition for three-year-olds on Friday. 1:55.2 had been recorded by the filly Tiamogonedancen in 2021 and the gelding Captaincountrystar in 2023.
Commander Crunch, owned by trainer Jeffrey Indof along with Misty Winkler, came to the Keystone State after the transfer and promptly won at Clearfield three days ago. Then at Bedford, after fractions of :29.2, :58.3, and 1:27.2, he reached the line in record time and got two lines in the Bedford books (all-age and divisional) under the guidance of 20-year-old Jesse Barnard.
The other section of the “A” FSS for the glamour division produced a magic mile as well, a 1:58.3 mile by Ima Proud Captain which came twelve minutes too late to be the fastest mile of the year at the PA fairs. Even the “B” division saw a 2:00 mile turned in by Fourbyfourbyyou.
To round out the 3YO pacers: the quicker division of the higher filly level proved to be the third “A” fair win for Papi Knows, a 1:59.3 victory; the other section was won in 2:00.1 by Lovebug Hanover, her third “A” win since being claimed at The Meadows and her fifth straight victory overall.
But that was not the full extent of the 2:00 miles on Friday, as the Father Patrick trotting gelding Family Guy won in 2:00, fastest trotting mile of the fair season in the state. 23YO provisional driver Steven Fedokovitz had the sulky seat for trainer Steve Schoeffel – and owners Kathy Schoeffel, Brett Schoeffel, Kylee Schoeffel, and Brooke Schoeffel.
Thursday was two-year-old day at Bedford, and there was a baby who did hold the distinction of the fastest winner of the year at the fairs – for 23 hours and 24 minutes, anyway. That was the Stay Hungry – Latte Lady gelding Lucas Hanover, who won in 1:58.4 for driver Cody Schadel, trainer-father Todd, and owners Todd and Christine (Cody’s mother) Schadel. Lucas Hanover also became the first horse to get to four “A” victories on the year, and emerged the only one as no sophomore could notch a fourth fair triumph.
The two-year-old pacing filly Unreal Appeal Sgt won the faster “A” cut in her section, 2:02.2, and the triumph gave her three fair wins for 2026. Her clocking was not the fastest for her age/sex/gait, however, as Honey Roll made her career debut in a “B” division and won in 2:01.4 for 75-years-young Sam Beegle, a Bedford hometown boy.
Also deserving recognition is the two-year-old trotting colt Allmymoni Hanover, who won his “A” division in 2:02, missing his divisional record held by Super Fellow (since 1990) and Toolbox Tuesday by only 2/5 of a second.
The Schadel families were the biggest winners, as Todd both guided and sent out seven winners to lead the team of driver-husband Tony and trainer-wife Linda, who won five times.
The Pennsylvania Fair Circuit now heads to the Somerset County Fair in Meyersdale PA, just some 40 miles away in the southwestern part of the state. Post time will be at 1 p.m. for both Wednesday the 29th’s two-year-old racing and Thursday the 30th’s three-year-old action. Entries for Meyersdale are due Monday, through the usual methods.
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