Drive All Night motors to PA fair final victory

Three of four favorites continued their winning ways in the second of two days of the $80,000 PA Sire Stakes Fair Championship races conducted at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, with the fourth winner on this “all-colt” day a name well-known by Pennsylvania sports fans, if not particularly well-backed on this occasion.

Drive All Night, part of the 1-9 Schoeffel Stable entry in the freshman pace, kept the bridgejumpers, who had wagered $100,000 on the duo to place, from seeking higher ground by winning easily in a lifetime best of 1:53.4. The altered son of Real Artist, notching his eighth straight success and 12th on the year, was guided by Greg Grismore for trainer Steve Schoeffel and owners Virginia and Kathy Schoeffel and James Nelson.

In the sophomore pace, Mocha Latte overcame a hard trip to post his seventh straight victory, stopping the timer in 1:55. Another son of Real Artist, Mocha Latte is an all-Roger Hammer production – breeder, owner, trainer, and driver.

The RT Giant gelding RT Gizmo recorded his 12th win of 2007 while winning easily for trainer-driver Robert Rougeaux, setting a personal mark of 1:57.3 in the sophomore trot. Harold Brocious’s colt has now won five of his last seven starts.

The upsetter was Bettis, named after the Pittsburgh Steelers star, and the equine Bettis showed his athleticism by being parked 3/8 for the top, yet still winning the freshman trot nicely in 2:00.2. The Sierra Kosmos colt, let go at a generous 11-1 despite winning three of his four previous starts, lowered his mark by over six seconds for trainer-driver Dave Wade, also co-owner with William Peel III and Gerald Brittingham.

FINISHING LINES – Yonkers Raceway, watch out. Here comes Pennsylvania! Hammer declared after the race that he and Mocha Latte were going to the New York City-area oval for its $100,000 Interstate Fair Championship card on Oct. 20, while Bob Rougeaux was “probably” going at press time with RT Gizmo.

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