The Greek Freak not only was an impressive winner in Saturday’s $193,156 Pennsylvania Sire Stake (PASS) at The Meadows, but he also stamped his ticket to next week’s eliminations for the $450,000 (est) Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids.
The PASS for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, known as the Bye Bye Byrd, was contested over three divisions, with Sea Of Life and Lake Charles also capturing splits.
A total of 44 Adios eligibles competed on Saturday’s stakes program. While some trainers indicated their horses remained on the Adios bubble, that wasn’t true of Ron Burke, who confirmed that The Greek Freak is Adios bound.
The Captaintreacherous-Thirty X gelding, who didn’t hit the board in nine starts last year, now has won three straight, including two PASS splits. His victory for Matt Kakaley Saturday was an effortless front affair that saw him down Lous A Pansy by a length in a career-best 1:50.2, with Later Dudes third.
“I didn’t drive him last year, but I think they were having a little trouble with him wanting to do his own thing,” Kakaley said. “He seems like he’s gotten a lot smarter. He just lets me do what I want to do with him.”
Burke Racing Stable, Piatt Racing, J&T Silva-Purnel&Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC campaign The Greek Freak.
Sea Of Life, also an Adios eligible, had pace aplenty but appeared trapped behind a wall of horses. When the passing lane opened, he shot through for Scott Zeron to win in a stake-fastest 1:50. Sandbetweenmytoes was second, beaten one-and-a-quarter lengths, while A Positive Hanover earned show.
"We were doing some serious pacing up the backside, and then the race sort of came back to me,” Zeron said. “My guy was still sharp because I didn’t have to use him. I thought we would have enough room.”
Tony Alagna trains Sea Of Life, a son of Captaintreacherous-Fresh Idea, for Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Bradley Grant and Captain Kirk Racing.
Lake Charles followed live cover, then blew past in the lane to pull off the 10-1 upset for Mark MacDonald. Tito Rocks was second, 1-1/4 lengths back, while a hard-used Fortify completed the ticket.
“The first couple starts this year were a little tough on him,” said Ray Schnittker, who conditions the son of Well Said-Bodacious Hanover and owns with Dr. John Egloff, Max Hempt and Steven Arnold. “But Mark did a good job with him today, and I was happy with him.”
Lake Charles pushed his career bankroll to $155,537.
$100,000 PA Stallion Series — Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers
The Greek Freak wasn’t the only sophomore to earn a shot at Adios orchids. Trainer Ron Coyne said Seriously Hanover likely will get that opportunity following his 1:50.4 win with Zeron aboard.
“That’s the way the owners were leaning.” Coyne said. “We’ll talk about it over the weekend, but it’s a very good possibility.”
Michael Cimaglio, Stephen Demeter and Stephen Giagni own Seriously Hanover.
Stake honours of 1:50—in an eight-and-a-quarter-length romp, no less—went to No Quarter.
Moneyman Hill, Lyons Skipper and Sailboat Hanover took the other splits.
$42,610 James Manderino — Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters
This event, an Arden Downs stake, was over early. Although Patriarch Hanover needed more than a quarter to get the lead from post 8, the son of Father Patrick-Personal Style cruised from there, defeating Romanee Blue Chip by two lengths in 1:54.1. Beyond Ordinary was third.
“He’s a nice little horse,” said winning driver Kakaley. “He’s probably not as good as the top few — he’s just a little too small. But he tries his heart out. He gives it his all no matter what.”
Burke trains Patriarch Hanover, who now has banked $145,225 for Burke Racing Stable, William Switala, Joseph Martin and Weaver Bruscemi.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday when the 15-race program offers a pair of stakes for freshmen trotting colts and geldings: a $208,721 PASS and a $100,000 PA Stallion Series event. The card also features a trio of rich wagering opportunities: a $10,180.47 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5; a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Early Pick 4 (Race 3); a $1,058.46 carryover in the Early Pick 5 (Race 2). First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(The Meadows)