Lyons Sentinel Paces Stake Record
Lyons Sentinel blasted through the soggy Lightning Lane to score for Tim Tetrick in 1:51, matching the stake record for the Meadow Cheer—a $183,040 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for freshmen filly pacers—Tuesday, Aug. 13 at The Meadows. Rocknificent worked hard to capture the other division, giving Tetrick a stake sweep.
Trainer Jim King, Jr. received Lyons Sentinel in mid-July when owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound moved her from the stable of Gareth Dowse. King said he made only minor rigging changes for the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Tutu Hanover.
“She came to me a pretty good filly,” King said. “She’s kind of limber necked, so we added a pair of line poles, and we ended up putting a set of knee boots on her. I like her determination. On the front end, she’ll be loose-lining. When a horse comes to her, she bucks right up. She’s a fighter.”
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In the Meadow Cheer, she yielded to the pocket once Baby Your The Best quarter-poled to the top. Though the track had been rendered “good” by intermittent rain, Lyons Sentinel had little trouble overpowering Baby Your The Best and downing her by 2 lengths. More Than Kute finished third. It was the second PASS win for Lyons Sentinel, who matched the stake record of Bettor’s Up and vaulted over $100,000 in earnings.
When she won a July 20 PASS split, Rocknificent was forced to close outside after a slowish 58.1 first half. On Tuesday, it was déjà vu all over again; the half went in :58.1, with Rocknificent chasing outside. This time she was able to follow the live first-over cover of Beyond Ecstasy.
“When I saw that half, I thought, ‘here we go again,’” said Linda Toscano, who trains the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Rocklamation for Enviro Stables, South Mountain Stables and Little E LLC. “I saw her pace the last half in 54 the last time she was here. I think she can do it; I just don’t want her to do it too often.
“She looks the part, she has the pedigree and she acts like she likes doing what she’s doing."
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Rocknificent kicked by Beyond Ecstasy in the lane to defeat her by a half length in 1:52.2 with Marloe Hanover third.
Aaron Merriman collected four wins on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday when the card features a $994.84 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 1:05 PM.