By: Jerry Connors, Jr.
WASHINGTON PA – The Pennsylvania fair circuit commenced a very busy week with Fair Sire Stakes action on Sunday and Monday at the Washington County Fairgrounds, known as Arden Downs during its Grand Circuit heyday, in southwestern Pennsylvania, not far down the road from The Meadows.
On Sunday the Stay Hungry – Pueblo Blue Chip gelding Quill Gordon continued as the marquee horse among the freshmen, coming home first in 2:01.2. The fair season’s leader for his section and now a winner of three “A” races, Quill Gordon was driven by Eric Neal for trainer Mitchell York, co-owner with Erin York.
A race earlier the Sweet Lou – Takara filly Vegas Queen, also her section’s fair season’s leader, recorded a fourth “A” win and a fourth straight victory overall, completing her mile in 2:04 for 19-year-old driver Jesse Barnard, in the sulky for trainer Neil Balcerak and owner George Prushnok.
Once again, the trotting fillies went faster than the trotting colts, this time seeing both their sections beat out the faster trot for colts and geldings. Speediest of all the freshmen diamondgaiters was Pa Patricia, a Father Patrick – Tymal Lux filly who reported home first in 2:05.2 for driver Chris Shaw, trainer Ashley Brown, and the ownership of Sandy Petersen and Alexa Shaw.
The very first horse to cross the wire on Monday’s card for three-year-olds was Bettor Not, a Captain Crunch colt who kept his record perfect at the fairs with his seventh win, high among all the horses. A four-time 2:00 winner over the twicearounds this year, Bettor Not turned in the fastest mile of the meet at 2:00.2 for driver Tony Schadel, trainer Todd Schadel, and the ownership of Todd and Christine Schadel.
Just a tick off Bettor Not’s clocking was the Tall Dark Stranger filly Skepticism, winning for the second straight fair stop after producing Honesdale’s fastest meet clocking of 1:59.3. Eric Neal steered the formful filly for trainer Tom Loughry Jr. and owner Geraldine Poerio. This sector’s other “A” winner was the Always B Miki miss Milagro, 2024 champion and authoress of a 1:55.2 mile at Hughesville for fastest mile on the circuit this season, who bounced back after having a five-race win streak broken in her last outing by posting a 2:02.2 tally for co-owner/driver Tony and co-owner/trainer Linda Schadel.
The colts and fillies were also separated by only a tick on the trotting side as well, with the Todd Schadel barn sending out both fast diamondgaiters. Top honors were achieved by the Bar Hopping gelding Set The Bar, winning at the fairs for the fifth time, here with a 2:03.1 clocking for trainer-driver Schadel, co-owner with his wife Christine and Rick and Regina Beinhauer. Set The Bar is the fastest trotter at the fairs with his 1:58.4 all-age track record at Hughesville.
The 2:03.2 trotting filly winner was the International Moni distaff Tally The Tab, who also posted a fifth fair victory, and who is owned by Todd and Christine.
Close readers of this report have an inkling of what is coming in reporting the leading drivers and trainer at Washington. Three sulkysitters each crossed the wire first six times in the two days of racing – Eric Neal, along with Todd and Tony Schadel. On the training side, Todd Schadel’s seven winners from his shedrow earned the Washington crown.
By the time you read this story, the races for the next Circuit stop, at the Dayton Fair on Wednesday and Thursday, will have been drawn; the Dayton races will begin at noon on both days. Thursday and Friday will see the Somerset County Fair in Meyersdale hosting the trotters and pacers, while Saturday and Sunday will end the eventful week with racing at the Crawford County Fair in Meadville. More information can be obtained at https://pafairsracing.org/.
WASHINGTON PA – The Pennsylvania fair circuit commenced a very busy week with Fair Sire Stakes action on Sunday and Monday at the Washington County Fairgrounds, known as Arden Downs during its Grand Circuit heyday, in southwestern Pennsylvania, not far down the road from The Meadows.
On Sunday the Stay Hungry – Pueblo Blue Chip gelding Quill Gordon continued as the marquee horse among the freshmen, coming home first in 2:01.2. The fair season’s leader for his section and now a winner of three “A” races, Quill Gordon was driven by Eric Neal for trainer Mitchell York, co-owner with Erin York.
A race earlier the Sweet Lou – Takara filly Vegas Queen, also her section’s fair season’s leader, recorded a fourth “A” win and a fourth straight victory overall, completing her mile in 2:04 for 19-year-old driver Jesse Barnard, in the sulky for trainer Neil Balcerak and owner George Prushnok.
Once again, the trotting fillies went faster than the trotting colts, this time seeing both their sections beat out the faster trot for colts and geldings. Speediest of all the freshmen diamondgaiters was Pa Patricia, a Father Patrick – Tymal Lux filly who reported home first in 2:05.2 for driver Chris Shaw, trainer Ashley Brown, and the ownership of Sandy Petersen and Alexa Shaw.
The very first horse to cross the wire on Monday’s card for three-year-olds was Bettor Not, a Captain Crunch colt who kept his record perfect at the fairs with his seventh win, high among all the horses. A four-time 2:00 winner over the twicearounds this year, Bettor Not turned in the fastest mile of the meet at 2:00.2 for driver Tony Schadel, trainer Todd Schadel, and the ownership of Todd and Christine Schadel.
Just a tick off Bettor Not’s clocking was the Tall Dark Stranger filly Skepticism, winning for the second straight fair stop after producing Honesdale’s fastest meet clocking of 1:59.3. Eric Neal steered the formful filly for trainer Tom Loughry Jr. and owner Geraldine Poerio. This sector’s other “A” winner was the Always B Miki miss Milagro, 2024 champion and authoress of a 1:55.2 mile at Hughesville for fastest mile on the circuit this season, who bounced back after having a five-race win streak broken in her last outing by posting a 2:02.2 tally for co-owner/driver Tony and co-owner/trainer Linda Schadel.
The colts and fillies were also separated by only a tick on the trotting side as well, with the Todd Schadel barn sending out both fast diamondgaiters. Top honors were achieved by the Bar Hopping gelding Set The Bar, winning at the fairs for the fifth time, here with a 2:03.1 clocking for trainer-driver Schadel, co-owner with his wife Christine and Rick and Regina Beinhauer. Set The Bar is the fastest trotter at the fairs with his 1:58.4 all-age track record at Hughesville.
The 2:03.2 trotting filly winner was the International Moni distaff Tally The Tab, who also posted a fifth fair victory, and who is owned by Todd and Christine.
Close readers of this report have an inkling of what is coming in reporting the leading drivers and trainer at Washington. Three sulkysitters each crossed the wire first six times in the two days of racing – Eric Neal, along with Todd and Tony Schadel. On the training side, Todd Schadel’s seven winners from his shedrow earned the Washington crown.
By the time you read this story, the races for the next Circuit stop, at the Dayton Fair on Wednesday and Thursday, will have been drawn; the Dayton races will begin at noon on both days. Thursday and Friday will see the Somerset County Fair in Meyersdale hosting the trotters and pacers, while Saturday and Sunday will end the eventful week with racing at the Crawford County Fair in Meadville. More information can be obtained at https://pafairsracing.org/.
RSS Feed
