Minoan, via a 1:54.4 maiden-breaking victory, was the fastest winner of three $54,418 divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for rookie male trotters, dubbed the Hickory Pride, on Saturday, July 12 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
In the first PASS division, Minoan and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. went all the way on the front. After establishing himself on the lead before the quarter in :28.2, the Bar Hopping-Regal Woman colt cruised through middle splits of :58 and 1:26.3 and pulled away to win by 3-3/4 lengths. Confident Volo (Dave Palone) finished second, followed by Jim Beam (Tim Tetrick).
“He got locked in last week, so today’s effort is not a surprise,” trainer Noel Daley said following the win. “I was very happy with how relaxed he was today and how he handled everything.”
Owned by Patricia Stables, L. A. Express Stable LLC, Sjoblom Racing Inc., and Daley, Minoan was a $47,297 Lexington purchase. He is now one-for-two.
Mr Big Spender scored from the pocket in the second PASS division. After a :28.3 opening quarter in which several horses broke stride, Mike Wilder was able to keep the Captain Corey-Reilly K colt focused and on the helmet of leader Mr Penner (Ake Svanstedt) through 1:00.1 and 1:29.4 middle splits. Mr Big Spender then closed in :28.1, passing the pacesetter in the stretch to win by a half-length in 1:58.1 for trainer Norm Parker. Stormy Seas (Corey Callahan) was third.
Outside the winner’s circle, co-owner Bart Brice said “My family has owned racehorses for a long time, this colt is a lot of fun" and that the colt’s 1:54.2 triumph in a division of the Pennsylvania All-Stars was “an eye-opener," adding that "he’s been a nice colt all along, but the Pocono effort was an attention-getter.”
According to Brice, who shares ownership with brother Todd, the schedule calls for the Arden Downs Stakes to be Mr Big Spender's next start. The colt is two-for-three lifetime.
Despite other colts making breaks next to and in front of him, the Svanstedt-driven Dublin Hanover was unfazed as he grinded out a tight 1:55.3 victory in the final PASS division. The Captain Corey-Dab Hanover freshman found himself on the lead past the quarter in :28.2, then in the two-hole at the half in :57.2, but he regained the lead as Oversear (Charlie Norris) broke approaching five-eighths. Dublin Hanover then hit three-quarters in 1:26.2 and held off Highball Hanover (Jeremy Indof) by a nose in the stretch drive to win in 1:55.3. Captain Vodka (Wrenn) completed the trifecta.
“He’s very green and hasn’t quite figured it out," Svanstedt explained as he rushed to make flight connections. “He’s talented, so I hope he does.”
Dublin Hanover, an $87,838 yearling at Lexington, is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Tomas Andersson, and Lennart Johansson. He has won one of two career starts.
The Anthony Macdonald and Tim Twaddle connection struck in the first of four $27,397 Stallion Series divisions as Rico Tubbs and MacDonald left the pocket just past three-quarters on their way to a four-length romp. A $14,865 Lexington purchase for owner Thestable Rico Tubbs and Hutchison Harness LLC, the 1:57.3 effort by the gelded son of Father Patrick-Moonlight In Miami was the fastest of the four splits. Armani Blue Chip (Wrenn) took the place cheque with Dollar Draft (Aaron Merriman) third.
Express Train delivered a dramatic finish with a narrow victory in the second Stallion Series division. Using early gate speed to secure a pocket trip, driver Brian Zendt moved the Father Patrick-Joplin gelding to the outside off the last turn and would need every bit of the stretch to get past Storm Hanover (Wrenn) for the 1:58.3 victory for trainer Todd Rooney. Purchased at Lexington last fall for $33,784, Rooney Racing shares ownership with Kimberly Farmer and Trotting for Bourbon. Hattrick Patrick (Brady Brown) finished third.
Beer In My Hand kicked home in :28.3 in the third split, soaring away from his rivals to a 6-3/4-length no-doubter with Mike Wilder aboard. Racing third throughout the opening three-quarters, Wilder pulled just as the leader broke and a 1:58 win soon followed. Owned and bred by Christine and Cody Schadel, the Bar Hopping-Critical Hanover colt scored for trainer Todd Schadel following a vet scratch on June 30. Penny Loafer (Wrenn) was best of the rest, followed by Jose Labelle (Yoder).
In the last group, Tim Tetrick sent Kiefer first-over alongside the leader heading into the final turn, and the gelding trotted to a four-length Stallion Series victory in his second lifetime start in 1:59.1. Mahlon Martin owns and trains the son of Greenshoe-Soprana Hill that was a Harrisburg yearling purchase for $12,500. Seven Husbands (Aaron Johnston) completed the exacta with Big Mahoff (Brady Brown) third.
Birthday romped in the card's $24,658 Open Handicap Pace, cutting the mile and kicking clear to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:49.1 with Wrenn at the lines. Burke trains the six-year-old Sweet Lou-Breakheart Pass gelding, a homebred for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Buckeyebollinger N (Dave Palone) rode the pocket to a place finish over Saulsbrook Genesis (Callahan).
For the day, Dave Palone, Mike Wilder, and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. each had triples while Buckeye Brian Brown’s two training victories were tops among trainers.
Wrenn’s 11 driving wins and Burke’s eight training victories were the highest totals of the week. Racing resumes on Wednesday, July 16 at 12:45 p.m.
(With files from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)