Honesdale, PA --- The second half of the dual-phase meet at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in this northeast PA town, the “PA Fair Sire Stakes” portion after the “county fair” portion, ended Thursday (Aug. 7), with many familiar storylines in place at the wire.
Roger Hammer, who set the Honesdale track records on both the pace (Alastor Hanover, 1:56.2) and trot (Vivid Photo, 2:02) in 2010, again in 2014 had the fastest mile, a 2:00.4 outing by the Rocknroll Hanover gelding Rockabella, for whom Hammer is owner/trainer/driver, in a division of the FFA pace Wednesday. Like most of the week’s miles at Honesdale, the early pace was conservative, but the final quarter was impressive (:28).
The most interesting fair division so far, the 2-year-old filly pace, had seen Keystone I Wish stop Tropical Terror’s win streak at eight earlier in the week; on Thursday the fillies, who had deadheated at Bedford, drew in separate divisions and both won. First the Art Official filly Keystone I Wish for trainer/driver Todd Schadel, co-owner with his wife Christine, and then the Western Terror filly Tropical Terror for driver Chris Shaw, trainer Jason Shaw, and owner Mason Shaw.
The 2-year-old pacing fillies went in races three and four; races one and two were for the 2-year-old trotting fillies and both Schadel and Shaw won one each of these two as well -- both catch-driving for owner/trainer Boots Dunn -- the Glidemaster filly Shewontkissandtell and the Tom Ridge filly Isabella Carina.
Driving doubles seemed to be the order of the day in the Thursday Fair Sire Stakes for babies. On the colt side, Marc Mosher guided both trot winners, while on the pace Chris Shaw paraded back twice.
Well-known amateur horseman Alan Schwartz made a rare venture over the New York state line profitable as he won with R’lene Jetta, a Lear Jetta sophomore filly he owns, trains, and drove.
The ongoing success of Hurricane Shaw continued, the trio mentioned above. After Chris drove seven winners during the first session and Jason trained five, all for his 2-year-old son Mason the owner, Team Shaw went 6-5-5 during the second two-day section.
Finishing Lines: Roger Hammer also trained the fastest winner of the opening day of the two-day meet in Waynesburg, PA (358 miles southwest of Honesdale) Thursday, with the 2-year-old Rustler Hanover gelding Rustlercafe distancing a Quaker State field in 2:02 for driver Steve Schoeffel, who won three times on that card. There will be a full summary on the Waynesburg meet appearing after Friday’s racing for 3-year-olds.