North America Cup-eligible Dorsoduro Hanover put away defending Pennsylvania champion Pedro Hanover around the final turn and went on to an 11-1 upset victory in Saturday’s $169,288 PA Sires Stakes opener at The Meadows. The event for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers, known as the Bye Bye Byrd, was contested over two divisions, with This Is The Plan taking the other split.
Making his seasonal debut off a single qualifier, Dorsoduro Hanover was fourth down the backside when Jim Pantaleano sent him after Pedro Hanover. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Deer Valley Miss cleared without much opposition and held off the rallying Wes Delight by 1-1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:50.3. Captain Deo finished third.
Ron Burke, who trains the winner for Burke Racing Stable; Silva, Purnel & Libby; Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Wingfield Five, likened Dorsoduro Hanover to another Burke star who began to sparkle at three.
“He kind of reminds me of (2017 Little Brown Jug winner) Filibuster Hanover — under-achieved at two, gelded between two and three,” Burke said of the $100,000 yearling acquisition. “Since we gelded him last year, he really got better. When you look at his last lines from last year, he was really finding himself. That’s a top colt when he finds himself.”
He indicated Dorsoduro Hanover, who soared over $100,000 in career earnings, likely would race next in the second PASS leg and is heavily staked thereafter. Dorsoduro Hanover was listed at 40-1 in the 2018 Trot Magazine Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
This Is The Plan, coming off a sharp season-opening win at the Meadowlands, shot the 'Lightning Lane' for Dave Palone and triumphed in 1:53, a length better than early leader Babes Dig Me, with Record Machine third.
“This early in the season, you want to get the job done, but you definitely don’t want to stress these horses,” Palone said. “So it couldn’t have worked out any better. When he found the passing lane, he exploded through.”
It was one of three wins for Palone on the 14-race program. Chris Ryder trains the Somebeachsomewhere-Thats The Plan gelding, who extended his lifetime bankroll to $222,971, and owns with Robert Mondillo.
$60,000 PA Stallion Series — Three-Year-Old Colts & Geldings
Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Day card also featured a $60,000 PA Stallion Series stake for sophomore colt and gelding pacers. Trainer Mark Harder enjoyed a double with Art Dancer and Iluvtomakemoney while Winston captured the third division.
Art Dancer was hammered down to 1-9 in the wagering but needed to dig deep late to hold off Wheels On Fire by a half-length in 1:52, a life mark. Return Of The Sith earned show.
“They said he’s still green, still learning, and that’s the truth,” said winning driver Brett Miller. ”Coming off the last turn, I thought he was all done. But as soon as he heard and saw another horse, he took back off. So he’s a nice colt. He’s probably just as good or better when he gets to follow a horse.”
Rick Phillips, VIP Internet Stable and Harder campaign the A Rocknroll Dance-State Of The Art gelding.
Winston looked strong on the early lead but needed Corey Callahan to keep him to his task late.
“I thought if we could cut it today, we’d be in good shape,” Callahan said. “I don’t know if he was flattening out at the wire or if he was just kind of up there by himself. He’s got a little bit of ADD, but when I asked him, he went on again.”
Winston woke up in time to down the rallying Movin On Up by a length in 1:53. The pocket-sitting Yupper completed the ticket. John Butenschoen conditions Winston, a Western Ideal-Paris Hanover gelding, for Crawford Farms Racing.
(with files from The Meadows)