McDickerson, who squeaked into the field as the final qualifier, made the most of his opportunity Saturday by capturing — through disqualification — the Pennsylvania Fairs Championship for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers, becoming the ninth repeat champion in PA Fairs recorded history
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On a sparkling autumn afternoon, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino hosted the fairs’ 2010 finale, a celebration that featured live music, family-oriented activities and eight $20,000 divisional finals. Also earning titles were My Gal Hannah, Cadence Hall, Variance Hanover, Keystone Fling, Sapphire City, Filly Bay and Tommaso. Trainer Randy Neal enjoyed a championship double with Variance Hall and McDickerson; Tony Hall drove both and made it a triple with Cadence Hall.
McDickerson launched a first-over bid past the half only to have Statelys Revenge come off the pylons beneath him. Statelys Revenge crossed the wire 2-1/2 lengths ahead of McDickerson but was placed back to second for interference. Yuma Hanover finished third. The adjusted winning time was 1:55.2.
“He’s been as good this year as last year, but he had rougher trips this year at the fairs,” said Neal, who owns the McCardle-Canaco Model gelding with Cliff Neal. “He’s not real good off the gate, but he’s a nice little horse.”
He said McDickerson, a $3,500 yearling acquisition who now has banked $90,756, will continue racing for Neal’s son Eric, who piloted McDickerson at the fairs and now is pursuing his ‘A’ license.
Here is a look at the other championships:
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters
Tommaso trailed by 10-1/2 lengths at the half when he began his winning journey, which was abetted when the weary field slowed to a :32 final quarter. He scored in 2:00.3 for Brian Zendt, three-quarter lengths better than North Broadway, with Mr McRail third.
“He’s getting better,” said Walter “Boots” Dunn of the homebred Tom Ridge-Bellissimo gelding he trains for Dunn Stable. “He tailed off a little over the summer, but lately he’s been wanting to beat horses.”
Three-Year-Old Filly Trotters
Keystone Fling dominated her division, powering to the front for Mike Wilder and prevailing by 6-3/4 lengths in 1:59.1. Charming Photo and Leola completed the ticket. Keystone Fling has performed well wherever she’s been spotted — stakes, fairs, overnights — and Steve Schoeffel, who trains the daughter of Donerail-Its Just A Fling for Stephen Lander, Virginia Schoeffel and Kathy Schoeffel, said she’ll keep right on going.
“She was 13th in points and really wasn’t supposed to race,” Schoeffel said. “We got lucky, but we thought we could beat these horses. We’ll keep racing her here. She fits the conditions well.”
Three-Year-Old Filly Pacers
Dismissed at 11-1, Variance Hanover looped the field late with a wide move and triumphed in a career best 1:58. Kalua Killean shot the Lightning Lane for second, 2-1/4 lengths in arrears, with My Gal McKenna, part of a 1-5 Roger Hammer three-ply entry, third.
“She’s a nice closer — that’s the way she races best,” Hall said. “We were hoping for decent fractions because you really can’t use her until late in the mile.”
Eric Neal and Shainah Rugh own Variance Hanover, a daughter of The Panderosa-Venus Blue Chip purchased for $5,000 as a yearling.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters
Cadence Hall made his decisive move to the front before the five-eighths and went on to a facile 8-1/2-length blowout over Blueridge Dagon and Otto in 2:00.2, fastest of his career.
“He made mistakes his first couple starts, so I covered him up with a hood, a mask and ears,” said William Daugherty, Jr., who trains the Chip Chip Hooray-CR Campfiregirl gelding for Susan Daugherty. “I’d like to take all that equipment off because I think he’d be better yet, but you’re afraid to make changes when they’re doing well.”
Acquired for $8,000 as a yearling, Cadence Hall has won 11 of 17 career starts.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers
Sapphire City finished 15th in the standings and figured to be enjoying the weekend off. But when six higher seeds scratched or failed to enter, the son of Metropolitan-Spectre Almahurst found himself on the job. He responded beautifully, roaring to the lead and notching his championship in 1:56.2. Fool To Cry was two lengths back in second while Four Starz O rallied for show.
“In this field, I thought he’d be better on top but he’s a much better horse out of a hole,” said winning trainer-driver Todd Schadel, who with Hammer owns Sapphire City. “You saw that today when he didn’t want to try any more late even though he had a lot left.”
Schadel said he’s pointing Sapphire City to a series at the Meadowlands.
Two-Year-Old Filly Pacers
My Gal Hannah came first over for Kyle Bolon, got back to the pylons for a breather and shot the Lightning Lane to score in 1:58.1, her 11th victory in 16 outings. When Wishfullartist and Caramel Chinno finished second and third -- they completed a training sweep of this championship for Hammer.
“When I moved, I thought I would be able to get back to the pylons,” Bolon said. “It worked out because I didn’t have to use her the whole time.”
Bolon had to brush past Hammer and Caramel Chinno to get the victory but he indicated he had no qualms about beating the boss.
“Mixed feelings? Not me,” Bolon said. “If I can pass him, I’m going past.”
Hammer and Clair Corie bred and own My Gal Hannah, a daughter of Metropolitan-My Gal Phyl.
Two-Year-Old Filly Trotters
Filly Bay saved ground, and when the field slowed to a :32.4 final panel, she pounced for trainer-driver Bill Fahy, winning in a lifetime-best 2:02.1. Arizona Miss was second, 2-1/4 lengths back, while Mynah Hanover completed the trifecta.
“She turned out a lot better than expected,” said Moira Fahy, who owns the daughter of Chip Chip Hooray-Accompaniment. “At the beginning of the year, we didn’t know if she would make a race horse. She just blossomed at the fairs. She’s done what she was supposed to and more this year, so she’ll have a couple months off in the field — well deserved.”
(The Meadows)