Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) action returned to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Saturday, June 7 with three-year-old pacing fillies competing in a pair of $76,875 divisions.
Fresh off a win in a maiden claiming event and sent off at odds of 6-1 in her PASS debut, Good As You and driver Andrew McCarthy sprung a mild upset in the first division of the stakes event known as the Adios Betty.
“Going out of there from the rail, I was looking for someone to follow and avoided being first-over," said McCarthy.
When that trip didn’t materialize, the Trent Stohler trainee would take just that route.
“Top of the stretch,” McCarthy replied when asked when he thought an upset was possible.
Good As You sprinted past the popular leader, Looksgoodinloulou (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), to win by 4-1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:50.3. Stevie Hanover (Chris Page) was third.
Stohler shares ownership and breeding credit with Benjamin Grabor of the Papi Rob Hanover-Ubettorbeturlife filly, who is now four-for-nine in her career with earnings of $58,765.
“Very powerful attitude that translates into her racing,” is how driver Jack Pelling, fresh off his first stakes win at The Meadows, described Asphalt after she kept her perfect season intact by taking the day's fastest division in 1:50.
Driving for his father Brett, Pelling's aggressive handling early put the Papi Rob Hanover-Road Bet filly in a perfect spot. From there, the pair followed pacesetter Tie The Knot (Andy McCarthy) until popping the two-hole at the third quarter pole and pacing away to a 2-1/2-length victory over a fast-closing Papi Grad (Chris Page), who was making her seasonal debut. Tie The Knot settled for third.
Now four-for-four this season after posting one win in four freshman starts, Asphalt has earned $105,003 for owner Margaret Dey.
Saturday's card included a supporting cast of six $27,397 Pennsylvania Stallion Series divisions, with driver Aaron Merriman winning half, including the fastest split with the Tim Twaddle-trained Time Of The Season in 1:51.3. Merriman also drove Fancy Like Louuuuu to a 1:52 triumph for trainer Sarah Andrews and Always Dawn to a 1:52.2 score for the Anthony Beaton stable.
Chris Page drove a pair of Stallion Series winners, scoring with Ronstadt in 1:51.4 for conditioner Tony Alagna and Sammy Jo Hanover in 1:52.1 for trainer Scott DiDomenico.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. drove Ron Burke trainee Karma to a 1:51.4 victory in the other division.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association; photo of Asphalt winning on June 7)