Wakizashi Hanover turned in a sharp tune-up for the Breeders Crown when he won effortlessly in Tuesday’s Keystone Classic at The Meadows. Yankee Bounty took the other division of the $69,750 stake for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
Wakizashi Hanover ranks third among all North American Standardbreds in seasonal earnings, and he’s seventh in the current Hambletonian/Breeders Crown poll. While he’s used to racing for richer purses, trainer Joann Looney-King said the owners of the Dragon Again-Western Gesture gelding — the principals of Tri County Stable — deliberately picked the Keystone Classic for his final Breeders Crown prep.
“This was what we did instead of qualifying — $34,000 is better than nothing,” she said. “The owners stuck with their schedule. He’s done enough traveling. He’s still three, and we want him to last a while longer.”
In the Keystone Classic, Wakizashi Hanover controlled the mile for Tim Tetrick and scored in 1:51.1 over My Hero Ron. Allbeef N Nobull earned show. With the victory, Wakizashi Hanover soared over $1.2 million in career earnings.
“He looked good — never popped the plugs,” Looney-King said. “He’s been putting in steps lately, but today he looked on his game. So we’re ready.”
Yankee Bounty also prevailed on the front end, but he needed a late wake-up call from Yannick Gingras to complete the job.
“It wasn’t so much that he was tired, but he got a little lonely on the front,” Gingras said. “He was by himself a long way and wanted some company.”
The pocket-sitting Badiou Hanover was second, beaten a head, while Cooperstown rallied for show.
The Yankee Cruiser-Bootleg Yankee gelding, trained by Ron Burke for Yankee Bounty Partnership and Frank Chick, is having an unusual year, with $282,140 in earnings but only two victories. Gingras, for one, isn’t disappointed.
“He’s raced good against a good crop of three-year-olds,” Gingras said. “He’s been there all along. Not many wins, but the bottom line is the last column. That’s what matters.”
Chef Lee and Colbert each captured a division of Tuesday’s companion feature, an $89,800 Keystone Classic for sophomore colt and gelding trotters.
Chef Lee inherited the front when the leader, Mesmerized, broke stride near the quarter pole, and he made the most of it, digging in late to score in 1:54.4 — matching his lifetime best — for Mike Wilder and owner/trainer Norm Parker. Don’t Mind Me was second, a head back, with Suit And Tie third.
“The lead was where I wanted to be, although Mike always likes to take it easy on the horse,” Parker said. “I know he fights hard on the front end.”
The late Rex Parker, long-time Standardbred owner, bequeathed Chef Lee to his nephew Norm, and the Cantab Hall-Summer Savory gelding has been the gift that keeps on giving, pushing his career bankroll to $192,614. Parker said his final start this year will be in the Circle City at Hoosier Park.
Colbert had little trouble disposing of his competition, grabbing the lead early for Tetrick and rolling to victory in 1:54.4, fastest of his career. The first-over New Castle was second, 1-1/2 lengths in arrears, while Boots N Chains completed the ticket.
“I drove him for the first time his last race and he got locked in and pretty grabby,” Tetrick said. “I was hoping I could race him again and draw a spot where I could cut it. I thought he’d go a pretty big mile, and he did.”
Ake Svanstedt conditions Colbert, a son of Cantab Hall-Domestic Diva who vaulted over $100,000 in lifetime earnings, for Courant AB and Knutsson Trotting.
In the $16,500 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life Handicap Trot, Barn Girl — recently acquired privately for Burke by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura — returned instant dividends when she shot the Lightning Lane for Dave Palone to defeat Unefoisdansmavie by three lengths in 1:54.1, with Whata Donato third.
The three-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Turquoise Sweetie now boasts $199,716 in career earnings.
Palone and Burke each fashioned a four-bagger on the 15-race card while Wilder enjoyed a triple.
(The Meadows)