Sierra Girl seized the lead with a powerful, if unplanned, move before the half and rolled home in 1:55.2 in her career debut in Saturday’s (July 1) Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows. That makes her the sport’s fastest freshman trotter this year regardless of sex or track size.
The $162,944 stakes, known as the Meadow Gladys, was contested over four divisions, with Slip Sliding Away, Loveyoubunches and Landaluci taking the other splits. Ake Svanstedt enjoyed a training-driving double with Sierra Girl and Slip Siding Away.
Sierra Girl was fourth into the clubhouse turn when, Svanstedt said, circumstances compelled him to move without cover.
“It was not my meaning to do it,” he said. “But they pulled up so much she was going up on the wheel of the horse in front of me. I picked up the speed immediately.”
The daughter of Bar Hopping-Chuckys Luckycharm responded nimbly to the improvisation, overtaking Little Town Road and striding out to defeat her by 2-3/4 lengths. Standin Over completed the ticket. Ake Svanstedt Inc. owns Sierra Girl with Young Guns, Joe Sbrocco and JAF Racing.
Slip Sliding Away, also a first-time starter, let Jakarta Hanover do the heavy lifting on the front, then kicked by in the lane to down her by a half length in 1:57. Skyline Seashell was third.
“She showed a good attitude in her qualifiers,” said Svanstedt. “She’s a strong and nice-gaited horse, but attitude means a lot.”
Svandtedt’s experience with Slip Sliding Away so far is like a harness racing fairytale. First, he and Little E LLC bred Ice Attraction to Father Patrick to produce Slip Sliding Away. Then, they walked her through the sales ring, where she was purchased for $510,000 by Marvin Katz, Lynn Katz and Al Libfeld. Then, barely a few minutes later, the new owners turned the reins back to Svanstedt as the youngster’s new trainer. You can’t make this stuff up!
Loveyoubunches never had seen the Lightning Lane before, but when trainer-driver Todd Schadel pointed her in that direction, the daughter of Fordham Road-Lovebeinglucky responded willingly to stay perfect in two career starts with a 1:58.3 score. The first-over Diamante Hanover raced well for second, beaten three-quarters of a length, with early leader Better In Aruba third.
“This was her first time in the Lightning Lane, but she was good. She behaved herself and had a lot of go. We always wanted to keep her; she looked like she’d be a good filly,” said Rick Beinhauer, who bred Loveyoubunches with Regina Beinhauer.
The Beinhauers own the filly with Todd and Christine Schadel.
Mike Wilder drove the debuting Landaluci, a Greenshoe-High Sobriety filly, to a 1:59.3 victory for trainer Marcus Melander and owner Courant Inc.
The winners of Saturday’s $80,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series leg for two-year-old filly trotters were Ginger Tree Ashann (1:59), Absolutely Hanover (1:59.2), Tequini Hanover (1:58.2) and Bar Talk (1:59.1).
When Ginger Tree Ashann was passed by Pull The Shoes near the three-quarters, she appeared to be racing for place. But the daughter of Cantab Hall-Up Front Annika regrouped and defeated Pull The Shoes by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59 for Aaron Merriman in her career debut. Cantab A Good Name earned show.
“She just needed company,” said Sam Beegle, who trains the filly and owns with Ginger Tree Ventures, Knollview Stable 2 and Incognito Racing. “She didn’t know what she was doing on the front. We bought her at Harrisburg. What did we give for her? Too much.”
Dave Palone collected three wins on the 14-race card.
Prompted by a pair of carryovers, The Meadows and the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Initiative will offer two pool guarantees when live racing resumes Wednesday, July 5: $20,000 in the Early Pentafecta (Race 4), $7,500 in the Pick 5 (Race 8). First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from MSOA)