The 103rd Grand Circuit meeting at the Goshen Historic Track got underway on July 4 with 10 races featuring two and three-year-old pacers and trotters in the County Fair Division of the New York Sire Stakes.
Surprisingly, a track record ensued in the sixth race, the first division of in the New York Fair Stakes for freshmen pacing colts and geldings. Hands Off Frank went wire to wire, pacing every quarter in :29 and a piece en route to a 1:58.2 clocking for Gareth Dowse, Ray Schnittker’s right hand man. They turned down James Riverside, driven by Jason Bartlett.
Hands Off Frank is an Art Major-Red Hot Heather gelding owned by Schnittker, Ed Pachuta, and Frank Baldasarre.
The other division was captured by Stephane Bouchard when he guided Lightupbullville to a 2:02.2 score, defeating DWs Austin and driver J. Scott Taylor by four lengths.
Bouchard also won a County Fair pace with Bullville Honey in 2:02.3, as well as with Expressed, a sophomore trotter in 2:05. The 'Bullville' named horses are owned by Steve Crevani, while Expressed is the property of Thomas Hicks.
Also on the card, Monticello Raceway regular Cory Stratton won the NY Fair Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies with U R N Angel in 2:07.1. She is a daughter of Kenneth J-Beacon Hill Dannie and is trained by Steve Mooore for owner Ben Versaci.
Racing continues through July 7 and culminates with the Hall of Fame Banquet on the lawn at the Trotting Horse Museum which is next door to Historic Track.
(Goshen Historic Track)