3 Year Olds & 2 Year Olds
The Meadows Racetrack
Washington, PA
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Still disappointed by his sickness scratch from the Little Brown Jug, Timeisonmyside took out his frustration on his rivals in Saturday’s Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, rolling to an easy 3-1/2-length victory. Solid Character captured the other division in the $67,900 stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
The Jug scratch hurt even more because Timeisonmyside already had drawn the rail for his elimination. But Tim Twaddle, who trains the Captain Crunch-Macharoundtheclock gelding for TheStable Timeisonmyside Group, said the decision to scratch didn’t require much soul-searching.
“He came up sick,” Twaddle said. “He didn’t eat his breakfast, and we didn’t want to risk going there, shipping him there early and then potentially racing him two heats. As badly as we wanted to go, it would certainly have hurt the horse. It’s tough to get over, though his win today helps.”
In the Keystone Classic, Timeisonmyside quarter-poled to the top for Aaron Merriman and triumphed in 1:49.3, matching his career best, with Captain Fear Not and Dream Bird second and third, respectively. Twaddle indicated Timeisonmyside, who lifted his lifetime earnings to $263,130, will be pointed to the Breeders Crown.
Solid Character gave the cold shoulder to Rush In when that one tried to overtake him at the quarter, forcing Rush In to retreat to the pylons. That decision by Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. proved wise, as Solid Character cruised to a 2-length win over Rush In in 1:49.2, a lifetime mark. De La Hoya Hanover finished third.
Wrenn declined to characterize his quarter-pole denial as “hardball.”
“I thought it was kind of a two-horse race,” Wrenn said. “I just wanted to control the pace.”
Ron Burke conditions the Sweet Lou-Riley Character gelding for Burke Racing Stable, Robert Jackson, Timothy Sullivan and Tom Wilson.
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As expected, heavy favorites Blackhawk Zette (1-9) and Usain Hanover (6-5) subdued overmatched competition, each winning a split in Thursday’s $55,550 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Fresh off a third-place finish to national star T C I in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes championship, Blackhawk Zette had an opportunity to drop in third from the gate in the Keystone Classic, but neither he nor driver Matt Kakaley was interested in an early seat.
Instead, the son of Cantab Hall-Zette Starlet powered to the point before yielding it to the first-over Ordained. In the final turn, Blackhawk Zette exploded past Ordained and defeated him by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:53.3. Long shot Thaler Hanover rallied for show.
“Honestly, I didn’t think it really mattered what I did with him as long as I didn’t get him in a bad spot where he was trapped in,” Kakaley said. “He’s up there (with the best in his division). He tries, and he’s beautiful to drive.”
Blackhawk Zette now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $260,079 for trainer Robert Baggitt, Jr. and owner J.L. Sadowsky LLC.
Usain Hanover, who finished second in that PASS final, trotted patiently in third until Dave Palone sent him first up after the leader, Green Pastures. The Bar Hopping-Up Front Hotsey gelding cleared in a heartbeat and downed Activation — under wraps — by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53.4. Going Green finished third.
“He’s coming out of sires stake company, and this was probably a softening for him,” Palone said. “I thought if I could sit two turns, we were probably in good shape. I never removed his earplugs; he was shut down late. He’s a fresh horse for this late in the season.”
Nifty Norman conditions Usain Hanover, who boosted his career earnings to $195,589, for Enzed Racing Stable Inc.
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Pennsylvania champion Papi’s Rocket converted a pocket trip to a sharp 1:50.4 victory in Friday’s Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Wedlock Blue Chip captured the other division of the $82,700 stake for freshman colt and gelding pacers.
Papi’s Rocket let Dreamboat Hanover do the dirty work up front before overtaking him in mid-stretch. But winning driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. indicated at that point, Dreamboat Hanover wasn’t his principal concern.
“I was a little nervous leaving the two hole early because I thought I might be giving a shot to Railroad Station in the passing lane,” Wrenn said. “But I thought it was my time to move. He’s not real big, but he gives 100 percent every time.”
The son of Papi Rob Hanover-Real Touch remained in charge, downing Railroad Station by 1/2 length, with Steamboat Springs a rallying third. Ron Burke trains Papi’s Rocket, who vaulted over $200,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services and Slaughter Racing Stable. Burke sent out eight of Friday’s 16 Keystone Classic starters.
Wedlock Blue Chip had only a qualifier in the past month, but he came back ready, moving crisply first over and drawing off to a 3-1/4-length triumph in 1:53.1. Snack Attack and Lou’s Albano finished second and third, respectively. Roland “Poly” Mallar conditions the son of Bettor’s Wish-Heavenly Bride for Richard Cortese and Don Hawk.
“I think Poly wanted to get a race in him but couldn’t find one for him,” said winning driver Troy Beyer. “But his fitness wasn’t a big concern. Poly always has his horses strong.”
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Frank Leahy outkicked track record-holder Cheers Hanover in the lane to triumph in Wednesday’s Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Arrowhead Hanover captured the other division of the $77,900 stake for freshman colt and gelding trotters.
On Aug. 2, Cheers Hanover trotted in 1:54 for Hunter Myers, fastest mile ever by a freshman colt trotter. Ironically, in the Keystone Classic, it was Myers trying to pilot Frank Leahy around Myers’ erstwhile partner. Frank Leahy sat an unused third before taking up the attack entering the final turn, so Myers knew the son of Southwind Frank-Regal Woman was fresh.
“Once I saw that the quarter and half were a little soft, I thought it might be tough to catch him. But I got to sit as long as I wanted to. I got to take care of my horse before I had to use him,” Myers said of Frank Leahy, who entered Wednesday’s contest with a single victory on his card — that in an overnight.
Frank Leahy defeated Cheers Hanover by 1/2 length in 1:55.4, with Dignified Wheat third. Ron Burke trains Frank Leahy for Ben Mondello and Fac Racing LLC
In the other division, Arrowhead Hanover won under wraps in 1:55.2 for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., trainer Tim Twaddle and owner TheStable Arrowheadhanover Group. With the victory, the International Moni-Aarena Hanover gelding soared over $100,000 in career earnings.
Messenger Hanover was second, beaten a length, with The Fix Is In third.
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Sarasota Hanover turned back Gentrify’s stern challenge and rolled home in a stake-record 1:49.2 in Friday’s $54,750 Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Pressure Cooker captured the other division of the event for 3-year-old filly pacers, giving Dave Palone and trainer Linda Toscano a stake sweep. Overall, Palone enjoyed six wins on the 13-race card.
Sarasota was cruising down the “good” backside when she faced first-over pressure from Gentrify. That changed Palone’s plans.
“I thought maybe I’d give her a breather up the backstretch, and then Gentrify sort of forced my hand,” Palone said. “But when I took the plugs our, she was off on her own. Really an impressive filly. She wouldn’t embarrass herself against any filly in the country.”
Once put to the task, the daughter of Stay Hungry-Surfside Sexy reasserted and defeated Gentrify by a length, with Lou Lou third. The time erased the previous stake mark held jointly by Lispatty and Drama Act.
Jablonsky Held Stable, Camelor Stable Inc., John Fodera and South Mountain Stables campaign Sarasota Hanover, who now boasts a career bankroll of $243,025.
Pressure Cooker quarter-poled to the top and made the move stand up, downing the rallying Stonecoldtreachery by 3/4 lengths in a career-best 1:50.4. Staying With Emily completed the ticket.
“Last time I raced her, I had to use her leaving, and I had a little trouble getting her to relax,” Palone said. “But we were going enough that wasn’t an issue today. The fast fractions actually played into my hands.”
The daughter of Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin now has earned $183,476 lifetime for owners Odds On Racing, Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Mac Nichol.
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After futilely knocking heads with some of the best fillies in her division in recent weeks, Draw The Line found a spot more to her liking and triumphed in Wednesday’s $53,150 Keystone Classic for sophomore filly trotters at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Draw The Line was ambitiously placed in such top stakes as the Hambletonian Oaks, the Delvin Miller and the Delmonica Hanover, but all she got to show for it were minor awards and a nine-race losing streak. In the Keystone Classic, however, Ronnie Wrenn confidently quarter-poled her to the top.
Even there, Wrenn had to keep after the daughter of Cantab Hall-Ridge Speed late so she could down the pocket-sitting Happy Chopper by three-quarter lengths in 1:54.3. The first-over Tequini Hanover finished third.
“She was 1-5, so I think everyone thought she laid over the field,” Wrenn said. “It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. She dug in late and showed her class. She was a little funny on the front today, not really wanting to go. But when it was time to dig in, she responded.”
Ron Burke trains Draw The Line, who extended her lifetime bankroll to $253,048, for Brad Grant.
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Always Ana Hanover overwhelmed the leader, even money favorite Pilar Hanover, with a powerful, uncovered backside move and rolled home in a stake-record 1:51.1 in Thursday’s Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows. Royally Hot sprang a 12-1 upset in the other division of the stake for freshman filly pacers.
Always Ana Hanover was fourth when Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. sent her after Pilar Hanover, who offered resistance but succumbed in the stretch. The rallying Earth Angel was second, 1/2 length back, while 56-1 bomb Lyons Anitasangel earned show. The time is a career best for Always Ana Hanover and erased the previous stake mark of 1:51.3 Caviart Cherie established in 2016.
“They went pretty good to the half, but it’s always tough to come first over here and last,” Wrenn said. “That was probably her best race of the year.”
Ron Burke trains the daughter of Always B Miki-Ana Hanover for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, William Switala and James Martin.
Royally Hot had won just once — and that in an overnight — but trainer Jim King, Jr. considered the Keystone Classic a good spot for her.
“She’s been competitive right along,” King said. “She’s a little healthier right now than she’s been. She hasn’t really had her feelings hurt all year, which makes a difference at the end of the year.”
Owner/breeder/driver Tim Tetrick moved the daughter of Bettor’s Wish-McSauna from third past the three-quarters. She zipped by the leader, 1-9 favorite Beach Rules, and scored in 1:51.4, a new life mark. Blessed Hanover was second, beaten 1-3/4 lengths, while Lyons Benz completed the ticket at 61-1.
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$63,350 Keystone Classic —2-Year Old Filly Trotters
Princess Jackie and Seal The Deal AS figured to be best in their split of Wednesday’s co-feature. Jim Marohn, Jr. aboard Princess Jackie knew it, so he gave the cold shoulder to Wrenn and Seal The Deal AS when they tried to wrest away the lead at the quarter.
“I wanted to put her on the lead,” Marohn said. “It’s been awhile since she’s been there, and she likes racing there. I was in a good spot to do it. When I called on her in the last turn, she scooted right off as if it were her first start of the year.”
That decision proved wise as Princess Jackie jogged away from her rival late and downed her by 2 lengths in 1:56.2. Can It Be Magic completed the ticket. The daughter of Greenshoe-Frisky Magic boosted her lifetime bankroll to $180,014 for owner/trainer D.R. Ackerman, who named the filly for his granddaughter. Ackerman indicated Princess Jackie would be pointed to the Breeders Crown.
Blueberry continued her fine season in the other division with a front-end score in 1:56.1, matching her career-best and giving her earnings of $130,793. Payback Moni was 3-3/4 lengths back in second, with Tally The Tab third.
“She was a perfect=gaited horse from Day 1, an absolute sweetheart,” said Doug Snyder, who trains the homebred daughter of Father Patrick-Perfect Image for Geraldine Poerio. “She’s from a good female family, so she has a right to be a good horse.”
He said Blueberry will race once more this year, in the Liberty Bell, but has a more extensive stakes schedule next season.