Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for three-year-olds were featured at the Dayton Fairgrounds on Sunday (July 8).
Two $5,807 divisions of the PASS colt and gelding trot opened the card, and Bob And Bobby, by Andover Hall, made quick work of his opponents in the first race. Driven by Steve Schoeffel for trainer Bill Daugherty, Bob And Bobby went right to the lead out of the gate and never looked back, trotting in 2:03.2. Susan Daugherty owns the winner.
In the second division, Ibanez took the early lead and cut the mile for driver Eric Neal, while Mulligan Bi, driven by James McIlmurray, sat the pocket. Mulligan Bi tipped at the three-quarter pole to challenge, and the pair crossed the finish line together. However, the photo revealed that Ibanez held on by a whisker for his second win of the season for owners Eileen Lineweaver and Ellen Warren. Randy Neal trains the winner, who covered the mile in 2:02.2.
Four divisions of the three-year-old filly pace were also held, and Roger Hammer trainees captured two events. Paints Hall (Blissfull Hall), catch-driven by Chris Shaw, scored in 2:01.4, while Shootoutthelights (Dragon Again), won with Hammer at the lines in 2:04.4.
Wanna Go Fast, trained and driven by Steve Schoeffel, won her division in 2:02.3, earning her fourth straight victory on the circuit. Brooke Schoeffel and Trish Adams own the Yankee Cruiser filly.
The final division was won by Kaitlin Kir, owned by Bill Kirwan and trained by John McMullen. Kaitlin Kir, by No Pan Intended, paced in 2:02.2 with David Brickell in the bike.
In filly the filly trotting ranks, Magnolia Grace, driven by Brickell for owner/trainer Jack Claypoole, trotted in 2:06.4 to capture the first $5,817 division. Brickell then made it a clean sweep by guiding Erin Kristen to a 2:07.3 win for the Kirwan/McMullen combination. Magnolia Grace is a daughter of Glidemaster, while Erin Kristen is a filly by Chip Chip Hooray.
Colt and gelding pacers finished the day, and the first two divisions went to the same connections: owners Andray Farm and Lindwood Farms, trainer Randy Neal and driver Eric Neal.
First up was McJestic, a son of McArdle. Eric Neal sent him to the front out of the gate from the inside post, cutting the quarter in :29.4. Nucular Enemy, driven by Hammer, started in the second tier and moved up alongside at the half in 1:00.4, and the pair battled as a team by the three-quarter pole in 1:29.2. McJestic then pulled away in the stretch, pacing the fastest mile on the fair circuit so far this season, 1:59.1.
In the second division, McHoffman, also by McArdle, started in the second tier from post seven, and made an extended first-over bid work, as he won for the first time in his fifth career outing. Like his stablemate, McHoffman is a son of McArdle.
The day’s final race was captured by Anotherbugga (Allamerican Ingot), a Maryland invader for owner/trainer John Bell. Anotherbugga is now two-for-two on the PA circuit this summer after pacing in 2:02.2 for catch-driver Wayne Long.
Racing on the circuit now moves to the middle of the state, for two days of racing next weekend at the Gratz Fairgrounds in Dauphin County, near Harrisburg.
(PA Fair Harness Horsemen's Association)
