Taylor Jean powered to the lead from Post 8 and glided through the slop to capture a division of Monday’s Pennsylvania Stallion Series stakes leg at the Meadows
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The event for three-year-old trotting fillies, which kicked off the 2012 stakes season at The Meadows, was contested over five divisions.
Taylor Jean broke her maiden with a 12-1/2 length romp on May 7, a win that Wilder says may have launched a new phase of her career.
“She never really had any problems holding her back — she’s very honest and has a great attitude — but I’ve been racing her conservatively,” Wilder said. “But I turned her loose last week, and everything fell into place. That win last week played into her performance this week. The track wasn’t favouring speed today, but she held well.”
Taylor Jean opened a seven-length lead in the stretch before Wilder geared her down. She scored in 1:58.2, 1-3/4 lengths better than Magical Affair, with Meadowbranch Jill third. Dan Altmeyer trains the daughter of Cantab Hall-Lady Ironsides and owns with Jack Piatt II, Heather Wilder and Richard Kelson.
Mariko Hanover took a different path to victory, following the first-over cover of Barefoot Brook and downing that rival by a length in 1:59. My Love Bi completed the ticket. Marty Wollam trains the daughter of Cantab Hall-Meadowbranch Quiz for James Beluscak and Robert Carson.
“The owners liked her pedigree,” Wollam said of the $12,000 yearling acquisition, “and I liked the way she looks. She’s a nice, big filly, maybe a little growthy, but she’s kind of matured into herself. She can leave a little, but it seems to me she likes following cover. Unless something unusual happens, she’ll stay in the Stallion Series.”
Cannot Tell A Lie took to the track before the rain did most of its damage, and she had little trouble fashioning a front-end victory for Brian Zendt in a stake-fastest 1:57.4. Ciao Dough was second, 2-1/4 lengths back, while Cantab Cabela completed the ticket.
Boots Dunn trains the daughter of Glidemaster-Cherry Tree Sara, who was won seven of 19 career starts, for Dunn Stable.
Say What (1:59.1) and Devilicious (1:58.1) took the other $20,000 splits.
Tuesday’s card at The Meadows features four divisions of the $250,112 Stenographer, a PA Sires Stake for sophomore filly trotters. Check Me Out and Sand Violent Blu, considered leading contenders for divisional honours, will each make her 2012 debut in the event. First post is 12:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)