It was a day of fast times at the Jay County Fairgrounds Saturday, Aug. 5 in Portland. The entire fleet of two-year-old pacers were timed in 2:00 or faster and several horses on the card picked up new lifetime marks including Speedy Knickers, driven by Chad Clark. Steve Cross provided the race calls for the stop on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit as the horses prepare for next week’s Governor’s Cup Championships at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Speedy Knickers and Chad Clark earn a new lifetime mark in a division of two-year-old colt and gelding trotters on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit at the Jay County Fairgrounds.
Speedy Knickers stepped onto the track for the third division of two-year-old trotting colts. Starting from the second tier, he was able to get out of the gate and get behind early race leader Easter Jack and James Reed. Fractions of :31.3 and 1:02.0 were lit up on the board as Easter Jack was well in hand heading to the three-quarters.
Easter Jack, Speedy Knickers and Attaboy Milo and Mike Peterson had pulled away from the rest of the field. Speedy Knickers moved to the outside heading into the final turn and joined Easter Jack on the lead. The two trotting colts went at it, battling for the win the entire length of the stretch. As track announcer Steve Cross said, the two horses hit the wire together with Speed Knickers coming out on top of the close photo in 2:03.1. Easter Jack was a head back in second followed by Attaboy Milo, who finished open lengths back in third.
Speedy Knickers is owned by Locust Grove Farm and bred by Lloyd Wittmer. Enos Lengacher trains the sophomore son of You Know You Do, who earned his third career win in eight starts. Speedy Knickers is from the second crop of You Know You Do and was purchased for $6,200 at the Midwest Mixed Sale last September. He is the first foal from the Pilgrims Chuckie mare, Fancy Knickers.
Trainer-Driver Doug Rideout also had a successful day, sweeping the two-year-old trotting filly division with Fly Delta and Starlit Chloe. Fly Delta sat in the two-hole the entire way before moving up to win by two lengths in 2:04.0. Jalepenowner Mike Peterson finished second over Paulines Tereva and Gerald Miller for third.
Fly Delta is owned by Julie Rideout and Gracie Rosson. Rideout trains the daughter of Pilot Discretion.
Starlit Chloe had a slightly different trip as she went straight to the lead and never looked back, scoring the win in 2:05.0. Youmeandwhiskey and Walter Haynes Jr. finished three lengths back in second over Jolie’s Kate and Brad Ferguson for third.
Starlit Chloe is one of the leaders in the freshman filly trotting ranks this season. It was her fourth win in 11 starts for owners Julie Rideout, Dr. Alan White, and John Graber. John Wagler bred Starlit Chloe.
Rideout also connected in a division of two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, joining Speedy Knickers in the division as a winner. The Swan for All freshman turned in a gate to wire effort for the win in 2:04.2 over Jesmach Allmyheart. Helpingistheway and Logan Loney finished third.