Till Im Gone record highlights Stoneboro meet

STONEBORO PA – A successful two-day harness racing meet was held at the Stoneboro Fair in this northwest Pennsylvania town this Thursday and Friday, with fast miles and winning horses continuing to make their marks.

The lone track record of the meet was set on Thursday by the Southwind Frank – Tymal Elvira filly Till Im Gone, whose 2:03.2 mile did a number of things: as noted, it broke the divisional track record of 2:04.2, first set by Magnolia Grace ten years to the day before and equaled by Peoplesayimnogood in 2014; it also tied for the all-time fastest two-year-old mile ever at Stoneboro with the male Avenue Of Dreams – also ten years to the day earlier; it was a season’s record for the fair circuit for this filly group, and it tied the males’ record. Till Im Gone was driven by Wayne Long for trainer Bob Rougeaux III, who’s having a phenomenal year, and the Brocious Racing Stable Inc.

The fastest mile among the freshmen, the 2:01.4 by the Betting Line – Strait N Great pacing filly Bettor Strait N Up for co-owner/trainer Linda Schadel and co-owner/driver/husband Tony, also was her eighth fair win, tops among two-year-olds and tied for the overall lead, as we’ll soon read.

On Friday, the three-year-olds broke the 2:00 barrier twice, both miles in 1:59.2. One was by the most practiced pacer at this art, the Artspeak colt Terry A Hanover, giving him five 2:00 miles at the fairs this year, the outright lead, and also running him up to eight wins, tying him with Bettor Strait N Up (above) and his contemporary colt counterpart Top Me Off. Todd Schadel trains and drove the fast winner for Christine Schadel and Caitlin Solt.

The other magic mile was the A Rocknroll Dance pacing filly Tiamogonedancen, whose 1:55.2 clocking at Bedford still stands up as the fastest mile of the season at the Pennsy fairs. Co-owner/trainer Mitchell York and co-owner/driver David Brickell swept this division’s “A” races when adding a victory with the Betting Line filly Lazy Day Hanover (2:01.2), the winningest freshman pacer in North America last year, and perhaps regaining her best form as Championship Day comes in little over a month.

Fastest trotter of the meet was the Southwind Frank filly Frankkiss, hone in 2:01.4 for driver Shawn Johnston and trainer Gary Johnston, the latter co-owner with Joyce Benkart.

Top driver at Stoneboro was Shawn Johnston with five victories, one ahead of Aaron Johnson and Wayne Long. The list of trainers was topped by Lisa Dunn with four successes, one more than Bill Daugherty Jr., Gary Johnston, Todd Schadel, and Mitchell York.

The Pennsylvania fair circuit makes its last “western stop” at Meadville (Crawford County Fair) with a 2-day event Thursday and Friday, which will be drawn Tuesday. Then there will be a fair meet and a 2-day meet at Gratz, and then the final stop at Bloomsburg.

For full Thursday results, click here.

For full Friday results, click here.

From the Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association, Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, and Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association partnership