Cult Icon used a decisive first-over move to carry her to victory in a stake-record 1:53.1 in Monday afternoon’s $60,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event at The Meadows.
The stake for freshman filly pacers was contested over three divisions, with Real Fine and Dance For Kisses taking the other splits.
Cult Icon was third down the backside when she targeted the leader, Ana Hanover, with a brush so powerful it took her driver, Tyler Smith, by surprise.
“They told me she doesn’t like to do a lot of work, but when I moved her, she went right on by,” Smith said. “Off the turn I called on her, and she paced straight through the wire. I think she’ll get even better. She really hadn’t seen fractions like she saw today, and she paced right through them.”
Cult Icon held off Round The Beach by three-quarters of a length while Ana Hanover saved show. The time erased the previous stake mark of 1:53.4 established by Rustys Bliss in 2013. Trent Stohler trains the daughter of Bettors Delight-Yankee Icon for Trent Stohler Stable, Tim Graber, Single G Stable and Stately Gaits Stable.
Real Fine had faced the starter four times, including baby races, and jumped it off on three occasions. But winning driver Dave Palone exonerated her from blame.
“I always loved her attitude, and a lot of those mistakes really weren’t her fault,” Palone said. “She’s a sweetheart of a filly; she tries real hard. I think she’ll go nowhere but forward from here.”
In Monday’s stake, Real Fine moved first over from third before heading back to the cones for a quick breather. She came on again in the lane and downed Come Get The Cash by a half-length margin in 1:55 with early leader Fine Art third. Ron Burke conditions the daughter of Bettors Delight-Real Touch for Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Slaughter Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Tony Hall had to use Dance For Kisses twice — once for an early seat from post 8, once when she challenged the leader three wide near the three-quarters — but the daughter of A Rocknroll Dance-Thirsty For Kisses, responded beautifully, prevailing in 1:56. Some Renditions was second, 2-1/4 lengths back, while Pink It Up completed the ticket.
“We had a 35-1 shot loose on the front end, so I wanted to make sure I was in the outer flow,” Hall said. “I was kind of worried about that (being three wide), but she kept hold of the bit and kept marching forward.”
Justin Lebo trains Dance For Kisses for Crawford Farms Racing.
Jim Pantaleano piloted three winners on the 13-race card.
Tuesday’s program at The Meadows features the Sand Tart, a $159,852 PA Sites Stake for two-year-old filly pacers. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)