Fast times featured at Gratz

GRATZ PA – The Pennsylvania fair racing circuit shifted to this Pennsylvania borough about 35 miles north of state capital Harrisburg for a “2-day event” on Saturday and Sunday, and the Schadel brothers Todd and Tony, already among the leaders on the circuit and here getting a taste of “home cooking,” were the dominant figures in the track’s winners circle, including a sweep of the seven “A” three-year-old Fair Sire Stakes on Sunday.

Todd got Schadel Sophomore Sunday off to a flying start with the fastest mile of the meet, 1:56, turned in by a horse making his 2025 fair bow, the Papi Rob Hanover gelding Dreamboat Hanover. The “Dreamboat” (who also equaled Fasting’s fair divisional season’s record) was a winner for his trainer-driver, who is also a co-owner with wife Christine, Timothy Hayes, and Dr. Megan Moschgat.

Both brothers swept a pair of “A” divisions for fillies of their respective gait. Todd’s double came with the trotters, both owned by himself and Christine: Shalamar Hanover (by Cantab Hall) in 2:01.4, and Tally The Tab (by International Moni) in 2:00.1, co-fastest trot of the meet, matching the time of a stablemate to be described soon.

Driver Tony and trainer Linda Schadel share ownership of the duo of winning three-year-old pacing fillies. One is the redoubtable 2024 divisional champion and fastest 2025 winner (1:55.2 at Bedford) Milagro, an Always B Miki filly whose 1:58.1 win at Gratz was her eleventh fair triumph of 2025, seven of them in 2:00 (both figures lead all PaFSS “A” performers). They also tallied with Tina’s Wish (by Bettor’s Wish), who herself has six “A” wins, three in 2:00, after a 1:59.1 victory here.

Todd and Tony each took a division of the sophomore colt trot: Lionheart Hanover, a Greenshoe gelding and the division’s defending champion, is the winningest fair trotter with ten victories after triumphing here in 2:00.4 for Team Tony and Linda, while 2025’s quickest trotter at the twicearounds at 1:58.4 (over the Hughesville oval) is the Bar Hopping gelding Set The Bar, co-owned by Todd and Christine with Rick and Regina Beinhauer and a 2:02.1 winner at Gratz.

That “other” 2:00.1 trotter trained and driven by Todd Schadel we alluded to above? She was a two-year-old filly, the Bar Hopping – Snowflake Hanover miss Snow Queen Hanover, who acclimated to the fairs nicely in her first start on the circuit, with that Saturday 2:00.1 clocking not only equaling the divisional track record but also the all-time divisional record for all PA fairs set by Quarantina (and no points for guessing who campaigned that filly, and yes it’s the same guy who was this meet’s leading driver and trainer). Snow Queen Hanover is co-owned by Todd with Jim Simpson.

There was talent aplenty in Saturday’s other freshman races, with the meet’s leadoff Daily Double captured by horses not only making their fair bows but also breaking their maidens, both in the only freshman sub-2:00 miles. One was the Papi Rob Hanover – Candlelight Dinner colt Papi Hour, driven by David Brickell for trainer Neil Balcerak and owner George Prushnok to a 1:57.4 success: the other was the Bettor’s Wish – More Than Kate gelding More Than Guapo, a 1:59 winner for owner Bimmie Strausser and her trainer/driver, Gratz Fair committee member David Wiest.

Also deserving of recognition are a pair of two-year-olds who lowered their division’s 2025 fair season’s records: the Stay Hungry – Keepofftheflowers pacing filly Dancin Camille, who won in 2:00.1 for driver Chris Shaw and trainer-owner Brian Indof, and the International Moni – By A Nose Hanover trotting gelding Nose Jammer, who won in 2:01.3 for Team Todd and Christine.

The Circuit will be right back at Gratz this coming Sunday and Monday for the “fair meet,” with post time both days at high noon and a figure similar to this weekend’s $112,350 purse distribution up for grabs. For more information, please visit https://www.pafairsracing.org.

For complete race results, click here

From the PFHHA, MSOA and PHHA partnership