Sophomores hit the track in Keystone Classics

By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association

BRUE HANOVER EQUALS 1:49.1 STAKE RECORD IN MEADOWS KEYSTONE CLASSIC

 WASHINGTON, PA, Sept. 29, 2023  — Brue Hanover made up 1-1/2 lengths in the Lightning Lane and scored in 1:49.1, matching the stake record in Friday’s $69,100 Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Muskateer Hanover also used the Lightning Lane to capture the other division in the event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

It was the final day of the 2023 stakes season at The Meadows, and Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and trainer Ron Burke made the most of it. Burke started 18 horses over the 14-race card and won six races — four with Wrenn aboard. Hunter Myers and Dave Palone also enjoyed big days with three victories apiece.

Brue Hanover sprinted to the early lead but soon found himself second behind Fulton, who was hard used from post 8. But even as Tip Top Cat took the point first over, winning driver Brady Brown was confident of his chances.

“I knew I would get down in the passing lane pretty early because the horse on the lead was kind of bearing out, so I knew I would get a straight shot earlier,” Brown said. “I thought I’d run them down pretty quick.”

The Stay Hungry-Blind Ambition gelding, who has earned $136,091 for Burke and owner Brad Grant, downed Tip Top Cat by 1/2 length while Ervin Hanover finished third to give Burke a sweep of the top three spots. Brue Hanover’s time matched the record I Like Dreamin established in 2012.

The scenario was similar for Muskateer Hanover as he brushed through the Lightning Lane to prevail in a career-best 1:49.4 for Myers and Burke. Just Bet It All rallied for second, beaten 1-1/4 lengths, with early leader Idiosyncratic third.

“He kind of bears in a little bit in the last turn, so as soon as I got some room, I was trying to get down in there as fast as I could go,” Myers said. “I knew it was a good spot.”

Burke Racing Stable, Jim Simpson, Bridgette Jablonsky and Wingfield Five campaign the Sweet Lou-Marinade Hanover gelding.

$78,100 Keystone Classic — 3-Year-Old Filly Pace

Late For Dinner, Utopia Blue Chip and Beach Cowgirl each took a split in Friday’sco-feature.

The 6-5 favorite, Late For Dinner surrendered the early lead to C Is For Cookie but moved outside in the stretch drive for Wrenn to defeat her by 1/2 length in 1:50.3, fastest win in her career. Racin Hungry completed the ticket.

Wrenn said he much preferred an outside route to the Lightning Lane.

“She was drifting out a little bit,” he said. “I think she would have gone up the passing lane, but I preferred the outside. She seemed a little more comfortable doing that. I thought she’d pace a little bit more that way.”

Burke trains the daughter of Stay Hungry-Ubettergo for owner/breeder William Donovan.

Utopia Blue Chip, on the other hand, was more than happy to use the Lightning Lane for Drew Monti, triumphing by 1-1/2 lengths in a career-fastest 1:50.3. The first up Knights Tale and Hungry Lizzo rounded out the ticket.

“I knew I would have enough racetrack,” Monti said of the daughter of Sweet Lou-Reign On Me. “I was concerned about the leader, who looked a little bit empty going into the last turn. But I thought she had enough to get me to the Lightning Lane. Got lucky — we’ll take it”

Hunter Oakes conditions Utopia Blue Chip for D Racing Stable Inc., B&I Stables LLC, Donald Mac Rae and Earl Hill, Jr.

FRESH OFF DELAWARE FAIR TRACK RECORD, HERODOTUS TROTS EVEN FASTER IN MEADOWS KEYSTONE CLASSIC

Sept. 28, 2023  —Fresh off his 1:53.1 Delaware Fairgrounds track record, Herodotus was even faster in Thursday’s $48,950 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, scoring under wraps in a career-best 1:52.4. Spitfire Oversees was an overwhelming winner in the other division, giving Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. a Keystone Classic split.

Players hammered Herodotus down to 1-2 off his Old Oaken Bucket triumph, and he did not disappoint, seizing the early lead and staying there. Even when Sinatra De Vie loomed large in the lane, Wrenn never so much as shook the reins at the Bar Hopping-Regal Woman gelding, who defeated Sinatra De Vie by a length and lifted his lifetime bankroll to $282,193. Big Boy Ernest finished third.

“He trotted 1:52.4 pretty easy today — the plugs were still in,” Wrenn said. “Today was a little bit lesser competition for him, but he handled it pretty well. I had to steady him a bit in the turns, but I was pretty much just along for the ride.”

Wrenn sent Spitfire Oversees on an extended quarter-pole move that didn’t end until he crossed over near the half. But the son of International Moni-Legal Lady was more than up the task, drawing off to a 7-length cakewalk in 1:53.2, matching his lifetime mark. Open Bar and HS Winchester rounded out the ticket.

“He still has the Breeders Crown on the table; I don’t know if he’ll be good enough to head that way,” said Tim Twaddle, who trains the winner — who now boasts a career bankroll of $146,504 — for TheStable Spitfireoversses Group. ”That’s only his fourth win, so he can terrorize them in conditions here over the next few weeks.”

KEY MOVE EARNS TIPSY MONI EASY WIN IN MEADOWS $52,750 KEYSTONE CLASSIC

Sept. 27, 2023  — Tipsy Moni, the 4-5 favorite, made the decisive move at the quarter pole and jogged from there, easily capturing Wednesday’s $52.750 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old filly trotters at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows

Sheer Faith already was out and moving near the quarter when Ronnie Wrenn slipped Tipsy Moni off the cones from third to follow.

“I didn’t want to be shuffled to fourth, and I knew there were a couple other good fillies in there, so I didn’t want to get away too far back,” Wrenn said. “Leaving from post 2 really helped; the other favorites drew 8 and 9, and that really helped me get good early position.”

Once the daughter of International Moni-Seaside made the point near the three-eighths, she faced no serious challengers and scored in 1:55.4. Over Board shot the Lightning Lane for second, 1-1/4 lengths back, while Sheer Faith saved show.

D.R. Ackerman, who owns and trains Tipsy Moni, said the filly has three races remaining this season: the Colonial, the Simpson and the Liberty Bell. As for any plans for next year, Ackerman said:

“We’re trying to get through this year,” he said. “We’ll figure that out later.”