Latissimus Hanover extended his domination of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series, rolling to his fourth straight series win and completing his sweep of the preliminary legs Monday at The Meadows.
With his nine-length laugher Monday, Latissimus Hanover now has a combined victory margin of 23-1/4 lengths in the series. Ray Schnittker, who trains the son of Captaintreacherous-Ladyking and owns with Mary Kinsey Arnold and Ted Gewertz, indicated he has no regrets about campaigning him in the stallion series rather than the more lucrative — but more competitive — sires stakes.
“I just hope we can dominate the final,” Schnittker joked. “His first start wasn’t all that great; he was sitting last after a half that went in 59, and he didn’t have much pop. So I thought we’d race him in the stallions. He’s staked to everything, so later in the year, he’ll have his hands full.”
Hammered down to 1-9. Latissimus Hanover made the front with a quarter-pole move for Tim Tetrick and jogged home in a career-best 1:52.1. Bring The Thunder and Captain Fabulous completed the ticket.
Making his pari-mutuel debut, Walleywalleyinfree appeared to have trouble getting off the cones past the half. Once he picked up cover, he straightened out and drove through the stretch to score in 1:54.1 for Tony Hall, trainer Chris Ryder and owner Bella Racing. Loutenant finished second, 1-1/2 lengths back, while Lyons Night Hawk, who provided the winner’s much-appreciated cover, earned show.
“They told me he could get really hot, and they want to teach him to race from behind, so we were set to trip him out and race him like that,” Hall said. “Past the half, he was kind of running in a little bit, and I was hoping to get through the turn before I had to move him. But it was getting tight, and I tried to ease him out. He wasn’t ready to come yet.”
Costello spotted the leader, Lyons Johnnyjnr, a number of lengths at the three-quarters but powered through the lane to nail him by a neck in 1:54.2. Saronno finished third.
“It looked like the leader was putting up some good fractions,” said winning driver Matt Kakaley. “I was first up with him last week, so I was hoping to give him a little better trip today. He’s all right, that little guy.”
The win likely earned the son of Sweet Lou-Laughandbehappy a berth in the championship. Ron Burke conditions Costello for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and Phil Collura.
The $80,000 stake for freshman colt and gelding pacers was contested over four divisions, with Do Ya Think taking the other split. The $40,000 series final is set for Sept. 3 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Stake racing at The Meadows continues Tuesday with the Tyler B, a $188,111 PA Sires Stake for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)