Angel Plus, a standout at Pennsylvania Fairs last year, showed that she’s elevated her game Friday at The Meadows by capturing the fastest division of a $60,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake for three-year-old filly pacers.
The event was contested over three divisions, with Mezzanine Fashion and Dobre Povedane also taking $20,000 splits. Aaron Merriman enjoyed a stakes double behind Angel Plus and Mezzanine Fashion.
Angel Plus was fourth down the backside when Merriman sent her uncovered after the leader, Somewhere Fameous. She cleared comfortably and downed Somewhere Fameous by 2-3/4 lengths in a career-best 1:54.2, with Hashtag Quick third.
“She’s really matured; she’s a lot better filly,” said Sam Beegle, who trains the daughter of Quik Pulse Mindale-Crew Angel for Bay Pond Racing Stable. “If she keeps this up, she might graduate to the next level.”
He said Angel Plus would be pointed to the PA All-Stars at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Mezzanine Fashion also moved first over for Merriman and persevered through the lane, prevailing in 1:54.4, a lifetime mark. Apricot Sour was second, half a length back, while Mistup Magic earned show.
“I didn’t have to move that early,” Merriman said, “but she’s kind of a big filly, and I didn’t want to move her in the turn. I wanted to get her set up. When I moved her, she really wanted to go. I drove her confidently, and she responded.”
Jim King, Jr. conditions Mezzanine Fashion, a daughter of Well Said-Catch The Show, for Thomas Kemp.
Dobre Povedane and Eloquently Stated are both by Well Said out of daughters of Dragons Lair, and for awhile during the back half of their split, they were inseparable. Dobre Povedane found just enough for Mike Wilder to hold off Eloquently Stated by a head in 1:55.3, with Doll Fins completing the ticket.
Tim Twaddle, who trained Dobre Povedane during her sojourn at The Meadows, said he tweaked her rigging after she broke in the first leg of a recent series.
“Before she came here, she had a problem running in, and she was rigged to prevent that,” he said. “For whatever reason, on this track, she was going the opposite way. So I just made her more comfortable. Nothing major, really.”
David Prushnok and John Prushnok campaign Dobre Povedane, who will return to the John Butenschoen stable for the next pair of stallion series legs.
In the $20,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace, Alberta-owned Phone Terror wore down the leader, Certified Ideal, with a determined uncovered bid for Dan Rawlings and defeated her by a nose in 1:53.2. Do Me Honor finished third.
Robert Bernard trains Phone Terror, a six-year-old daughter of Western Terror-Miss Lex who extended her career bankroll to $346,814, for Edmonton's Lucy Raymond.
Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Day Card at The Meadows features the $62,100 The Meadows Maturity for four-and-up stallion and gelding trotters as well as the Adios Betty, a $183,216 PA Sires Stakes for sophomore filly pacers. First post is 11:25 a.m.
(With files from The Meadows)