Three-year-old colt and gelding pacers kicked off the 2025 stakes season at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Saturday, May 3 in three $57,113 divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS), known as the Bye Bye Byrd leg, and five $27,778 divisions of the Stallion Series.

Dan Patch Award divisional winner Louprint was victorious in the first start of his sophomore campaign, taking a PASS division in 1:49.3 over a sloppy track for trainer Ron Burke.

Starting from post eight, driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. worked his way to the lead nearing the three-eighths with Louprint. An opening half of :54.4 and some company from Dreamboat Hanover (David Miller) did not faze Louprint as he rattled off another :54.4 half to win in 1:49.3 by 1-3/4 lengths over a hard-fighting Dreamboat Hanover. Wild Bill Wyatt (Dave Palone) was third.

 “From out there [post eight], I wanted to take my time and find the right spot for him,” Wrenn said afterwards. "It may not have been ideal, but he handled it very well.”

Louprint, a millionaire Breeders Crown champion at two, is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Phil Collura and Larry Karr. The homebred Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer colt is the top choice in the TROT Magazine Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.

Last season, Chris Ryder trainee Twisted Destiny was the Stallion Series champion. But after Saturday's win, now it’s big boy time.

With Prince Hal Hanover’s :26.1 lead-securing quarter over the sloppy surface, Dexter Dunn waited until past the five-eighths to move Twisted Destiny in their PASS division. It took the length of the stretch to secure the one-length win in a lifetime-best 1:49.1 effort. Driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Railroad Station’s early gate speed from the rail set up a strong rally for the place spot over Prince Hal Hanover and David Miller.

The winner, a son of Bettors Wish out of millionaire Tug River Princess, is owned by breeder Let It Ride Stables, Alberg Racing and Enviro Stables. 

In the other PASS division, Dave Palone and Go Go Grasshopper snapped right off the starting car for a quick lead and after that the race was never in question. 

Cutting all the fractions in the sloppy conditions, Go Go Grasshopper wound up a 2-3/4-length winner in a lifetime-best 1:50 over a well-closing Papis Rocket (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who had bested him in the PASS championship last year. Shipmaster (Matt Kakaley) was third.

Joe Bongiorno trains the Sweet Lou-Faster Faster colt, another winner co-owned by Let It Ride Stables, along with Odds On Racing and JB Racing.

Odds On Outlier highlighted the first leg of the Stallion Series, winning the fastest flight in 1:50.4 over a 'good' track. Peter Wrenn moved the three-year-old Sweet Lou-Odds On Orlando gelding just before the quarter and from there had his way to storm home in :27.1 for trainer Melanie Wrenn and owner Odds On Racing.

Just as impressive for Odds On Racing and co-owner Ufo 2 was Odds On No Limit, who took advantage of a Matt Kakaley pocket trip to grind by leader Stay Focused for victory in another Stallion Series race. Trained by Travis Alexander, this Sweet Lou gelding out of Odds On Clearwater scored in 1:51.3 over the 'good' going. 

Mike Wilder crafted two Stallion Series wins, using cover trips to put the Britney Dillon-trained Paxamillion (Sweet Lou-The Signature) and the Brian Brown stable's Damn The Torpedoes (Always B Miki-Cantgetenuffofyou) in position for closing matching 1:52.2 victories with the track rated 'good.' 

As the track was downgraded to sloppy, David Miller put Hotchkiss (Papi Rob Hanover-Delizabeth) on the lead and the Andrew Stafford trainee held off Wheelhouse Hanover for his third victory in five starts this season, scoring in 1:54.

For the day, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. had five wins and Mike Wilder ended up with three through the 14 races.

(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association; photo of Louprint from win on May 3)