Arden Downs stakes at The Meadows
ADIOS DAY ARDEN DOWNS GRAND CIRCUIT ROUND-UP
By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association
WASHINGTON, PA, July 29, 2023 — Saturday’s Adios Day card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows featured, of course, the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids as well as the Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo. But the program also offered four other Arden Downs Grand Circuit stakes. Here’s a round-up of that action.
$34,505 Dwane Parker 3-Year-Old Filly Trot
This stake was renamed to honor the memory of the late Dwane Parker, longtime Meadows trainer who died earlier this year. Parker also was a founder, convener and host of an annual Adios Day event called “Parkerpalooza,” when the extended Parker-Bolon clan — and anyone else who drops by — gathers on The Hill overlooking the back stretch to celebrate family and great harness racing.
Many of the celebrants trekked to the winners’ circle where they joined Angelpedia, who powered off to a 4-length score following a quarter-pole move for Mike Wilder. Truly Relentless and Lillehammer Hall rounded out the ticket.
“She’s eligible to just about everything,” Wilder said. “It’s a matter of what the owners decide to do with her. There are a lot of options with her.”
Dan Altmeyer trains the daughter of Cantab Hall-Baker Blank, who has banked $134,561 for owners Gilbert Short and Rose Stables LLC.
$44,254 James Manderino 3-Year-old Colt and Gelding Trot
The James Manderino was a showcase for Anthony MacDonald and trainer Tim Twaddle, who swept the two divisions with Crantini and Austral Hanover, both campaigned by MacDonald’s fractional ownership groups.
After winning more than $182,000 last year, Crantini was said to be on the Hambletonian trail. But after exhibiting fractiousness and other bad habits, MacDonald relocated the International Moni-Peach Martini gelding to a new base at The Meadows and some softer engagements.
“He’s always been a little bit of an idiot, to be honest,” MacDonald said. “We brought him back here to maybe do exactly what he’s been doing, finding his best foot. Tim’s done a great job keeping him quiet. I had to work on him today. You never used to do that; you’d be very careful with him. He’s probably rounding into the horse we hoped he would be.”
Austral Hanover, an International Moni-Aspidistra Hanover gelding, brushed confidently around the leaders in the lane and prevailed in 1:55.2. Momoni De Vie was second, beaten 1-3/4 lengths, while Big Boy Earnest earned show.
$42,496 Mary Lib Miller 2-Year-Old Filly Pace
Speaking of sweeps, trainer Ron Burke accomplished this in the Mary Lib Miller with wins by My Girl EJ and Lousloulemon. My Girl EJ was especially impressive, as she routed the field by 12-3/4 lengths in a stake-record 1:51.1. Stay Lucky and Sonadora were second and third, respectively.
“She’s been very nice, but she’s a little bit fussy about her mouth,” said winning driver Chris Page of the daughter of Sweet-Lou-Lucy’s Pearl, a maiden entering the day for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Elizabeth Novak and Howard Taylor. “So I didn’t wrestle with her. I just kind of let her do her thing. I know that’s not that bottom. I know there’s still more left in the tank.”
Lousloulemon also broke her maiden, moving first over to upset at 9-1 in 1:53.1 for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. Ginger Tree Belle was a head back in second, with Deja Jade third. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscmi, Purnel & Libby and Larry Karr campaign the daughter of Sweet Lou-Fashion Fluzzy.
$40,696 Roy Davis 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
The splits went to Silken Sweet and Rose Run Zeke.
Silken Sweet hadn’t so much as hit the board in four outings, but he made it look easy for Dave Palone, scoring by 3-1/2 lengths on the front end in an unpressured 1:51.4. Senditin Jim and Rio completed the ticket.
“This was a case of watching replays from the previous week,” Palone said. “He was loaded last week and never found a way through. He just looked like a big, growthy colt that might just want to stretch his legs out. I figured my only shot was to put him in the hunt and go from there. He was very attentive, and when I asked on him, he was gone.”
Deborah Daguet trains the daughter of Betting Line-Sweet Body for D Racing Stable Inc. and Donald MacRae.
Rose Run Zeke, meanwhile, stretched his career unbeaten streak to four by downing Solid Character by 2 lengths, with Dream Bird earning show. Hunter Myers piloted the Stay Hungry-Rose Run Ultimate gelding for owner/trainer Mitchell York.
SKYLINE SEASHELL REASSERTS, BREAKS MAIDEN IN ARDEN DOWNS STAKE
WASHINGTON, PA, July 28, 2023 — Passed by a rival entering the final turn, Skyline Seashell dug deep, reasserted in the lane and broke her maiden in Friday’s $40,000 Arden Downs Grand Circuit Stake at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Insider Trading captured the other division in the event for freshman filly trotters known as the Edward M. Ryan.
The first-over Better in Aruba edged nearly a full length ahead of Skyline Seashell but could not cross over. That’s when the daughter of Father Patrick-Fate Smiled responded to Mike Wilder and reclaimed the lead, notching her first win in five starts in 1:57.2. Mon Amie Martine rallied for second, a length back, while Better In Aruba saved show.
“I”ve kind of been flying under the radar with my filly,” Wilder said. “I’ve been real quiet with her, getting good last quarters, and I’ve been wanting to make that move with her that I made tonight, and she showed up.”
Dan Altmeyer trains the winner for Diamond Club Racing, Anthony Capone, Jr., Mark Capone and David Wills.
Insider Trading followed live cover and rolled to a comfortable victory in a career-best 1:56.4 for Anthony MacDonald, trainer Tim Twaddle and owner TheStable Insider Trading Group. Cahira Hanover closed well for second, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, with Freedonia IT third.
“I have all the faith in the world in this filly,” MacDonald said of the daughter of Greenshoe-Topcat Hall. “She’s always been a little fragile, a little fractious, and tonight for the first time, I saw her put it all together for the whole race.”
$60,000 Robert J. Key — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
In the Adios Eve co-feature, also an Arden Downs Grand Circuit Stake, Honor Guard, Activation and Memorymimagination took the splits, with the MacDonald-Twaddle team doubling up with Activation and Memorynimagination. Also worth noting is the work of the offspring of Father Patrick, who took four of the five stake splits on the program.
Honor Guard appeared to be in a deep hole, a maiden 2-year-old trailing by 5-1/2 lengths at the half. But he picked up live first-over cover and kept on advancing for Dave Palone, drawing off by an eye-popping 6-3/4 lengths in 1:58.3. Viktory Blue Chip and Five Second Rule completed the ticket.
“He has pedigree,” Palone said, “so I figured somewhere along the line he’s either going to show it or not. I let him stretch out up the back side, which was a mistake. He got lost when he was off by himself. Next week I might not let him move to the point so quick.”
Scott Cox conditions the daughter of Father Patrick-Honor Thy Daughter for Jason Ash LLC.
Activation led for most of the mile after a contested opening panel, but MacDonald indicated it’s wise to stay busy on the Father Patrick-Repentance gelding.
“He never makes it easy on you, that’s for sure,” MacDonald said. “He won’t run usually, but he makes you work for it every inch of the mile. He’s always in neutral, rarely up into fifth gear. He’ll come on when he’s challenged. He’s just a big goof out there, to be honest.”
Put Option was second, beaten 2-1/2 lengths, while Kill A Word earned show.
