Custom Order smashes 18-year-old record

GRATZ PA – The Gratz (PA) Fairgrounds, regarded as having one of the fastest ovals on the Pennsylvania Fair Circuit, held a Two-Day Fair Sire Stakes event this past Saturday and Sunday (September 5 and 6), and will also host the circuit’s trotting and pacing this coming weekend during its Fair meet (Sunday the 13^th and Monday the 14^th). Conditions were a little more conducive to speed on Saturday, when the two-year-olds raced, than on Sunday, which was the sophomore’s turn to take to the oval; four freshmen broke the 2:00 barrier while only a pair of sophomores eclipsed that clocking.

The speed show started immediately with the first race on Saturday, when the Greenshoe – Accustom trotting gelding Custom Order covered the mile in 2:00.2, knocking two-fifths off the local divisional standard set on September 14, 2008 by both Pine Hill Bling and KT Dixie Player. Custom Order set the 2026 fair seasonal standard, and he now has five ”A” victories for the partnership of trainer Linda and driver Tony Schadel.

The two-year-old pacing male “A” winners both beat 2:00. First up was Fast Crunch (Captain Crunch – Fast Machine), who made it three straight for driver-trainer Steven Walters and owner David Bellantonio, here in 1:58.2. The other division was won in 1:57.1 by the Papi Rob Hanover – Warrawee  Quick colt Fast Getaway, now a winner of four of his last five outings for the partnership of driver Cody and trainer Todd Schadel.

The fastest fillies were, on the pace, Honey Roll (Stay Hungry – Pleasant Roll), now a fair season’s leader after a 1:59 mile for driver-trainer Sam Beegle and Bay Pond Racing Stable, and on the trot Sister Saloon (Father Patrick – Bar Bar), whose fair record is now 8-7-1-0 after a mile in 2:01, a 2026 fair circuit mark, for driver Chris Shaw, trainer Ashley Brown, and owners Sandy Petersen and Alexa Shaw.

On Sunday one sophomore on each discipline won in a time far faster than their gaitmates. The Bettor’s Wish pacing gelding More Than Guapo, who set his mark of 1:51.2 at Pocono earlier this campaign, traveled the Gratz layout in 1:57.1, 3 1/5 seconds quicker than any other sidewheeler at the fairgrounds that day. The sophomore was certainly on his game for driver David Wiest, trainer Justin Wiest, and owner Bimmie Strasser.

The trotting filly PA Patricia, the 2025 divisional Champion who had a slow start to her year, is now 6-4-2-0 at the fairs after her Gratz victory in 1:59.4, also 3 1/5 seconds quicker than any other Sunday trotter. The same team behind freshman filly Sister Saloon—Shaw, Brown, Petersen & Shaw – also races this oncoming distaff.

Other horses rate a mention for their winning ways, three of them 3YO pacing fillies ascloseascanbe in the seasonal records. Papi Knows is now 10-7-3-0 after a 2:00.2 victory; Don’t Be Late was 9-7-2-0 before her Gratz heat, but she was third Sunday to another streaker, Lovebug Hanover, who also put up a 2:00.2 triumph. Lovebug Hanover was claimed on July 1 and has then proceeded to win six of seven races over the double-rounds. If these three ever draw in together before the final, you’d probably have a very good preview of that Championship.

Recording his fifth straight “A’ sophomore colt trot win was the Bar Hopping gelding Swan Wayne, part of an excellent summer for his co-owners, driver Wayne Long and trainer Joyce Lineweaver.

The various horseperson’s crowns at Gratz I provided very tight competitions, although the name Schadel, “hometowners,” had a high-placed profile. Tony Schadel drove four winners, all babies, to finish one ahead of nephew Cody Schadel and Kyle Bolon in the sulky category, while brother-in-law and sister-in-law Todd and Linda Schadel both had three training triumphs.

As noted, the Circuit stays right at Gratz this coming weekend, with Sunday and Monday racing at noon to be drawn Friday morning. With three stops left on the 2026 trail, the competition will be fierce for spots in each division’s $25,000 Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championship on October 9 at The Meadows; in addition, those barns with a horse very near the top of the pointstandings will watch to see if their horses gets the coveted blanket in stable colors for being #1 in points – no division has sewn up its Blanket Champion yet.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PFHHA, MSOA and PHHA partnership