Rembrandt Spur made a decisive quarter-pole move to the front, then cruised on top to capture the $119,679 final of the Currier & Ives for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters last at the Meadows.
Rembrandt Spur has done his best racing on the lead, so when he got away third behind early leader Rompaway Beau, trainer/driver Dick Stillings didn’t sit in with him for long.
“The outside horse got to the front pretty easy, but I figured he’d probably want to follow one of the horses to beat,” said Stillings, whose only previous victory in a Currier & Ives final at The Meadows was in 1992 with Sirocco Spur. “He let me go, and we got a pretty easy half. That second quarter was really nice.”
Once Rembrandt Spur got the front half in :58, the gelded son of Pegasus Spur--Marty E kicked into high gear, easily thwarting the first-over bid of Salutation Hanover, which could provide only faltering cover for the would-be closers.
Although Rembrandt Spur faced no serious challenge, Stillings said he was obliged to keep after his charge.
“You have to chase him,” Stillings said. “I have ears on him and a hood, and I didn’t want to fall asleep going for $120,000.”
Rembrandt Spur scored in 1:54.3, two ticks off the stakes record established by Vivid Photo in 2005 and the fastest mile this year by a sophomore gelding trotter on a five-eighths-mile track. Triumphant Caviar was three and one-quarter-length back in second, with Keystone Activator third.
Roy Davis owns Rembrandt Spur, who won for the sixth time in nine 2009 starts and seems to have overcome the foot problems that caused occasional beaks. Not so Stillings, who limped noticeably on a gimpy right ankle injured in a training accident about a month ago.
“I started working on my tendon now, and I’m starting to feel better,” Stillings said. “Before that I was getting worse and worse. But now I’m doctoring it myself. Doesn’t bother me when I drive, though. Just when I walk or fish.”
Cassis Takes Fastest Pass Split At The Meadows
Performing with a patience that belied his status as a first-time starter, Cassis saved his best move for last night at the Meadows and took the fastest division of a $264,530 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
The event, known as the Hickory Pride, was contested over five divisions, with Upandover Hanover, RT Picaadilly, Freedom Ridge and Hard Livin winning the other splits.
Cassis got away cleanly from the rail and saved ground past the three quarters pole. It was only when Baximum wrested the lead from Asabi Hanover that trainer/driver Ray Schnittker asked Cassis for trot.
“He’s like a little professional racehorse already,” Schnittker said of the $60,000 yearling acquisition. “He’s got it figured out. I don’t know what he’ll be down the road, but he’s really nice right now. He raced like an aged horse today. He’ll win a lot of races on manners alone.”
Cassis scored in 1:59.3, one and a half lengths better than Baximum, while Asabi Hanover saved show. Schnittker owns Cassis, a son of Cantab Hall--Dirty Martini, with Jerry Silva, Arden Homestead Stable and Kelks Inc.
(With files from the Meadows)