Washington, PA – Pennsylvania Fairs championship night Friday (Oct. 12) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows was transformed into the “Schadel Show,” as brothers Todd Schadel and Tony Schadel — racing their stables separately — captured a combined five titles. That includes five championships as owners/trainers and three winning drives among those five titles. The program featured eight finals, each with a purse of $25,000.
Tony Schadel has perhaps the most interesting tale to tell, as he won the 2-Year-Old Filly Pace with Milagro, a horse he purchased inadvertently for a mere $3,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg.
“I bought her as a mistake,” Tony said. “She’s an Always B Miki filly, she had a nice big butt on her, so I put my hand up. Then they turned her around, and she stood real bad up front, and I thought, hopefully someone will bid higher. But nobody else bid, so I was the buyer.”
Dubious conformation notwithstanding, it was the best mistake Tony ever made. The daughter of Always B Miki-Thecrowdiswatching roared three wide through the final turn with Tony in the sulky to triumph in a career-best 1:54.4, 2 lengths better than Dont Touch My T. Tina’s Wish was a locked-in third.
Tony’s other owner/trainer/driver score came with Lionheart Hanover in the 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot. The Greenshoe-Lady Riveria gelding, a $12,000 yearling purchase, seized the early lead, backed down the fractions and never was threatened, winning by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2, a new life mark. Mr Hopper and Keystone Windsor finished second and third, respectively. Tony and Linda Schadel own both Milagro and Lionheart Hanover.
In the other championships:
3-Year-Old Filly Trot — Loveyoubunches
In one of the evening’s least surprising outcomes, Loveyoubunches prevailed as the 1-5 favorite with Todd Schadel at the helm. The daughter of Fordham Road-Lovebeinglucky scored on the front end in 1:56.3 to lift her lifetime bankroll to $221,856 for owners Todd and Christine Schadel, Rick Beinhauer and Regina Beinhauer. Unique Wedding was a rallying second, beaten 2 lengths, while Whiskey’d My Way earned show.
3-Year-Old Filly Pace — Showboat Hanover
Andy Miller, who collected two titles for Todd Schadel on the card, steered Showboat Hanover to victory in 1:53.3, downing early leader Gingertree Carilin by 3/4 lengths in 1:53.3. Chatty Vanessa was third. The daughter of Betting Line-Someheartsomewhere now has banked $114,648 for owners Todd and Christine Schadel.
“I wanted to get away second rather than third, but that’s where I ended up,” Miller said. “I was able to sit before turning for home, and she did the rest. When we shook free turning for home, I thought we had a good shot.”
2-Year-Old Filly Trot — H Moni Winner
Brady Brown collected a pair of titles, including this one with H Moni Winner, who flirted with a quarter-pole move but returned to the cones. She saved her trot for the lane and scored in a career-best 1:59.2. Classy Cocktail was second, 2 lengths in arrears, with RT Paint It Black third. Dana Kahrig conditions the daughter of International Moni-Nightflix Hanover for Joseph Burkholder.
“I didn’t want to be put third, but the leader went on a little bit,” Brown said of his abortive early move. “She’s very touchy with her mouth, and I was a little nervous in the last turn; she had a pretty good hold on me, and sometimes she’ll take off running. But it worked out perfect.”
3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot-Cyclone Ban
Brown’s other crown came with Cyclone Ben, who zipped to the early lead and had little trouble from there, prevailing by 3/4 lengths in 1:57, fastest mile of his career. Bird And Grenade and International Craze rounded out the ticket. Trainer Steve Schoeffel notched an exacta sweep. Kathy Schoeffel, Stephen Lander, Roger Romesser and Renee Lovett campaign the Greenshoe-Afterimage gelding.
“I thought, if I can get him off the gate quick and clear,” Brown said, “hopefully I can get him home. And it worked.”
2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace — Sweet Parlay
In the best stretch duel of the evening. Sweet Parlay wore down a game Compensate Me and defeated him for Eric Neal by a neck in 1:55. Wheelhouse Hanover finished third.
“He’s very calm,” said Richard Dunn, who trains the Sweet Lou-Parlee Beach gelding, a $20,000 yearling acquisition at Harrisburg, and owns with Mbc Stables LLC. “When he gets on the track, he knows what he’s doing. He’s been a horse that I haven’t had to do anything with; it’s all him.
3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace — Ante Up Hanover
Miller and Todd Schadel teamed up for this facile front-end 1:52.2 victory by the 1-9 favorite, a Betting Line-A Pippin Hanover gelding. Aintbluenomore was second, 3-3/4 lengths back, with Rose Run Zeke third. Ante Up Hanover boosted his career earnings to $153,732 for Todd and Christine Schadel.
“ We’ll give him a break and race him next year,” Todd said of the $18,000 yearling purchase.
And how does it feel for the Schadel family to walk away with five championships?
“It feels good. At least they know we were here.”
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday, first post 12:45 PM.
The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) is a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of approximately 700 Standardbred trainers, drivers, caretakers and owners at The Meadows. In addition to providing horses to race at The Meadows, MSOA administers such member-centric services as health insurance and retirement programs for horsemen and horsewomen.
