Wapiti Blue Chip took control at the quarter and kept on marching, scoring in a track record 1:54.2 in his $74,308 division of the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Friday, July 12.
The mile by the International Moni-Make It Blue Chip gelding is the fastest ever by a freshman gelding trotter at The Meadows, knocking two ticks from the mark established by Real Cool Sam in 2019.
The PASS leg, known as the Hickory Pride, was contested over three divisions, with Meshuggah and Fashion Green — both driven by Dave Palone — taking the other splits.
Once the horses settled from the gate, Braxten Boyd confidently moved Wapiti Blue Chip to the point.
“He raced pretty well his last time out, so I was hoping for the best,” said winning trainer Mahlon Martin of his $45,000 yearling purchase.
He indicated Wapiti Blue Chip will race primarily in Pennsylvania this season.
Early leader Arrowhead Hanover was second, a half-length back, with Cantab Zette third.
Ashley Burslam, Steven Mullen and Gregory Garton own Wapiti Blue Chip.
Meshuggah had shown talent and manners in his sole previous start, but in the Hickory Pride, he was trying to track down a still-strong Elan Hanover in the stretch. Palone was by no means sure he could do it.
“I really didn’t know if I would beat him or not; I just wanted my colt to finish up strong,” he said. “They were both trotting strong at the wire. I thought, I’m following along with some talent, let’s see which one wants to get his nose up first.”
It took the entire stretch, but the son of Greenshoe-Starita edged Elan Hanover by a head in 1:55. Big Shoes completed the ticket.
Marcus Melander conditions Meshuggah, a $120,000 yearling acquisition, for Courant Inc.
Fashion Green, a homebred Greenshoe-Fashion Athena gelding, remained undefeated in three starts winning his division in 1:55.2 by five lengths for trainer Jim Campbell and Fashion Farms. Dive Bar Hanover and The Fix Is In rounded out the top three finish order.
The Meadows also hosted a quartet of $27,397 divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for two-year-old male trotters. Scudo Hanover (1:58.1), Podico (1:57.2), Credit To Frank (1:57) and Manolo Hanover (1:58) each captured a division. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Ron Burke enjoyed a stakes double with Podico and Credit To Frank.
After driving Wapiti Blue Chip to victory in the earlier PASS division, Boyd reached a career milestone in the very next race with his Stallion Series winner Scudo Hanover. The 24-year-old reinsman celebrated his 2,000th driving win.
Boyd never had sat behind Scudo Hanover before, so what was his strategy?
“I went back and watched a couple of his replays,” said Boyd. “I pretty much saw he was pretty perfect. I got to sneak in the two-hole leaving and everything else pretty much took care of itself.”
In the stretch, he cruised by the leader, Munster Mash Trick, defeating him by 1-1/4 lengths. Non Disclosure was third.
Syl King Jr. trains the International Moni-Shared Past gelding for Keystone Stable.
In Friday’s $29,041 Open Pace, lightly regarded American Fling pulled off the 18-1 upset to lift his career earnings to $433,301. Mike Wilder piloted the four-year-old American Ideal-Feeling You gelding for trainer Randy Bendis, who owns with Pollack Racing LLC.
Allen Sisco sent Golden Compass aggressively toward the front from post nine, found a seat second and rallied through the Lightning Lane to spring a 18-1 shocker of their own in Friday’s $13,699 leg of the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association (GLADA) Trot.
Golden Compass was coming off a win at The Meadows, but even Sisco had doubts about the chances of the Sebastian K S-Zette Angel six-year-old from post nine.
“There’s no other option with this horse [from post nine],” he said of the 1:54.2 winner he trains for Oldford Racing LLC. “He’s aggressive, so we’re kind of just a passenger with him a lot of days. I’m just happy that he minded his manners. That’s the first time we’ve had the nine-hole with him.”
Wilder collected four wins and Palone three on the 13-race card.
Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Saturday, when the program features a $2,029 carryover in the Early Pentafecta (race four). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)