Pouncing on a late miscue by the leader, Keystone Abbey avoided the breaker and poured through the lane to capture Saturday’s $70,000 Currier & Ives for three-year-old filly trotters at The Meadows.
It was the fourth straight victory for the daughter of Cantab Hall-Miss Aultsville, who previously swept three divisions in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series.
Keystone Abbey inherited the lead briefly for Aaron Merriman when Nomo Volo powered to the point from post 9 only to jump it off. That was the signal for Dave Palone to quarter-pole to the top with Fade Into You, the 6-5 favourite off several fine performances in PA Sires Stakes. Fade Into You had little trouble thwarting the backside challengers but made an unforced break — Palone indicated he couldn’t pinpoint a reason for it — as they straightened out from the final turn.
Merriman, meanwhile, said the leader’s break did him no favour.
“I don’t know how much trot David had when he ran, but I had a lot of trot left,” Merriman said. “The break probably was the worst thing for my horse. I had to jerk her sideways, and she almost took herself up — she has a little attention issue. I was nervous about it, but she was well in hand before that.”
Keystone Abbey retained her composure and held off Giant Possession by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.3, a career best. Rush Lane finished third at a whopping 60-1. It was one of three victories for Merriman on the 13-race card.
Chris Beaver trains Keystone Abbey, a $15,000 yearling acquisition who soared over $100,000 in lifetime earnings, and owns with Donald Robinson, Martin Yoder and R.B. H. Ventures. Beaver previously indicated the filly would be pointed to the PA All-Stars at Pocono.
Elsewhere on the card, the $20,000 Open Handicap Pace billed as “The Battle of the Millionaires” Dancin Yankee and Dapper Dude, became a TKO early as Dancin Yankee seized control despite a parked-out :26.2 opening panel. He drew off to prevail by four lengths in 1:50.2 for Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owner Burke Racing Stable. The 11-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser-Dancewiththebest now boasts career earnings of $1,930.587.
Brent “Clipper” Davis was razor sharp at The Meadows Saturday, keeping Beatrice alive outside as the duo captured a $10,000 leg of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Trot.
Davis and Beatrice were out before the half to start their sustained drive . . . and even wider in the stretch.
“At the three-eighths, a guy behind me came early, and I just wanted to make sure I had her out with a little room,” Davis said. “I had to come three wide in the last turn, which usually isn’t a very good spot. But she’s really a professional horse. She does a good job.”
The five-year-old daughter of Photo Color-Lima Simplicity had enough in the tank to hold off the Lightning Lane charge of Bob “The Lumberman” Troyer and Ubanji by a neck in 1:57.3. Alesha “The Hoosier Hotshot” Binkley (Hititoutofthepark) and Stephen “You’re Never Too” Oldford completed the Top 4.
Ed Teefey campaigns Beatrice, who extended her career bankroll to $133,114.
Davis indicated he’ll keep Beatrice in the Billings series but might slip in some overnights as well.
“She’s a good amateur horse — easy to drive — but she’s a good raceway horse as well,” he said. “She can hold her own with the professionals. She’s just as nice.”
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, first post 1:05 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)