Cashmere N Caviar, who strenuously objected to her lessons last year, showed how much she has matured Wednesday at The Meadows when she captured a division of the $202,935 Stenographer in a stakes record
1:55.3.
The Pennsylvania Sires Stake for three-year-old trotting fillies was contested over three divisions, with Celebrity Katie and Hot Off The Press taking the other $67,645 splits. Cashmere N Caviar and Hot Off The Press are ticketed for next Wednesday’s $120,000 (est.) Currier & Ives filly division at The Meadows.
At two, Cashmere N Caviar did not aspire to be a racehorse and let trainer Mike Palone know it, rewarding him with a variety of scrapes and bruises for his efforts.
“She would throw herself down, run you into fences, break jog carts,” he said. “But she’s grown up.”
When she finally reached the races, the daughter of SJs Caviar-Ladyinfocus won her only two starts —- including a Keystone Classic split -- for Rima Holdings. In her seasonal debut Wednesday, she trotted patiently for Dave Palone before moving with cover down the backside and drawing off to score by two lengths over Dont Blink, with Jogging Home third. The time eclipsed the mark of 1:56.1 established last year by Easy Dream.
“This one meant a lot,” Dave Palone said. “I’m so proud of what my brother has done training this filly. She’s had him down, on crutches, but he’s turned her into a real sweetheart. She has a great attitude now.”
Celebrity Katie pulled the pocket early for Brett Miller and prevailed comfortably in 1:57, two lengths better than 2-5 favourite Love U Overandover. Cutie Pie rallied for show. Staffan Lind, who trains Celebrity Katie and owns with Celebrity Farms, said the hopples he added three back have helped the daughter of SJs Caviar-Star Hanover.
“I was regretting her breaks last year all winter, so I figured, better be safe than sorry,” Lind said of his $20,000 yearling acquisition. “She’s a good-gaited filly but sometimes gets a little excited behind the gate and puts in an extra step.”
Hot Off The Press sat comfortably in fifth while her rivals battled three across for the lead past the five-eighths. When Mike Wilder asked her for trot, she gobbled up the tiring leaders and went on to triumph in 1:57.4. A shuffled Filly Bay came on for second, three and a quarter lengths in arrears, while Lyrical Lady completed the ticket.
“When I saw them battling, I thought, ‘I bet there are some people who aren’t real happy with their drivers right now,’” said winning trainer Kelly Stackowicz. “I wasn’t worried about her passing them after that.”
Jacqueline Ingrassia, Martha Brown and Arden Homestead Stable own Hot Off The Press, a daughter of Cantab Hall-Psychiatrist, who surpassed $100,000 in career earnings.
In the $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Arterosa unleashed a powerful first-over bid that carried him to victory in 1:51.3, a career best. War Boots was a neck back in second with a trapped-in Bettor Design third. Eric Ledford piloted the six-year-old son of The Panderosa-Artful Legs for trainer Kris Rickert and owners Dale Wareham and Mark Jakubik.
(The Meadows)