MONDAY, JULY 23, 2001

Local drivers have strong opening at county fair harness racing

By John Montgomery
Sports Writer

Ryan Stahl of Republic and Sycamore's Dan Burks opened the 2001 Seneca County Fair harness racing session with a strong showing for wagerers to highlight the efforts of local drivers.

Stahl finished in the money in four of the five races he drove, winning one, taking second in two more and ending up third in another.

Burks, meanwhile, won two of the three races in which he drove.

In all, local drivers finished in the top three in all but two of the eight races on the night -- and one of those two races didn't involve an area competitor.

Stahl said he was pleased with his performance on the first night of racing.

"I was happy with the night. I could have done a little better but that's the way things go," said Stahl, who drove Emkea to victory in 2:01 in the 3-year-old fill pace second division race.

He had to wait for his chance to get that win, letting front-runners Glimmerglass and Imaruff One wear each other out before overtaking them down the front stretch for the win.

"The one I won with, I didn't really plan on. I thought they'd get a speed duel up front with the two front-end horses, Glimmerglass and Imaruff One," Stahl said. "They got into kind of a speed duel and I just sat back and was patient and let them come back to me.

"In the turn for home, I knew the horses on the front end were getting a little weak," he said."The filly raced huge, she just kept coming."

John Konesky and Imaruff One claimed second in the race while Greg Bateson and Glimmerglass were third.

Burks' wins came by driving Sturdy Susan to victory in 2:07 2/5 in the 3-year-old filly trot first division and by guiding Sturdy Lori across the line first in 2:07 1/5 in the 2-year-old filly trot second division.

He said he knew he had a good chance of capturing that second win because Sturdy Lori is a good racer.

"The 2-year old that won the last race I won, she's a good one," he said. "She's one of the better fillies around."

Tyler Bates and Arrowhead Point came in second in the 3-year-old filly trot first division while Greg Bateson and Potential Yankee claimed third.

In the 2-year-old filly trot second division, Bateson and Y B Slow were second and Don Pfister and Bette crossed the line third.

Melanie Williams of Upper Sandusky also earned a trip to the winner's circle, driving Candy's Secret to victory in 2:00 4/5 in the 3-year-old fill pace first division race.

Bateson and Nevafold took second in the race Williams won while Stahl and Scipio Shania came in third.

Konesky and Angel Touched bested Stahl and Nothin But Trot in 2:13 to capture the 2-year-old filly trot first division, with Tiffin's Wade Burger ending up third with Magic Misty.

The 3-year-old filly trot second division win went to Matthew Kendall, who guided Baltic Jewels to victory in 2:05 2/5. Tyler Bates and Cash Inquiry finished second and Konesky and Jump For Joie were third.

Bates rebounded by winning the 3-year-old filly trot third division race with How Xciting in 2:04. Konesky and Queen's Chip ended up second and Mike Jarvis drove Go Go Amigo to third.

Everet Nead and Pocket's Best held off Stahl and Ervin in 2:05 1/5 in the rain to claim the non-winners $1,500 lifetime race. Jarvis and Boom Chickaboom finished third.

Racing action continues tonight at 7 p.m. with seven races and wraps up Tuesday at 7 p.m. with 10 races.