UF Tadys Donato avoided a breaker at the top of the lane Wednesday at The Meadows and went on to capture a division of a $306,536 Pennsylvania Sires Stake in 1:57, matching the stake record.
The event for two-year-old filly trotters, known as the Meadow Gladys, was conducted over four divisions, with Frau Blucher, Ruffleshaveridges and True Valentine taking the other splits.
UF Tadys Donato was gaining ground on an uncovered bid for David Miller when the leader, Fashion Athena, jumped off stride. Miller kept the daughter of Donato Hanover-Tadys Comer clear of trouble and piloted her to a one and three-quarter length victory over Good Intentions. Mystical Shyann was fourth-placed-third.
“She felt pretty strong, so I moved her,” Miller said. “She was getting to the leader — I don’t know if I could have caught her. I think she has a good future.”
Virgil Morgan Jr. trains UF Tadys Donato for Up Front Racing LLC.
Frau Blucher, named for the character in Young Frankenstein whose very name inspired fear in horses, did just that to her division when she quarter-poled to the lead for Dave Palone and triumphed in 1:57.2. Upfrontluckycarol was second, three lengths back, with Cupcake third.
“She’s just perfect, absolutely perfect to drive,” Palone said. “She has a beautiful mouth, and she was well within herself. I never spoke to her.”
Chris Oakes trains Frau Blucher, a daughter of Broadway Hall-My Angel, for Hauser Bros. Racing and Matt Tudisco.
Ruffleshaveridges proved a salty long shot for trainer-driver Rick Beinhauer, producing a 33-1 upset with a second-over trip. The 1-2 favorite, Coffeecake Hanover, fell a neck short, with Morningstar completing the ticket.
“She’s never trotted this fast, but she’s trained good all year,” said Beinhauer, who, with his wife Regina, bred and owns the daughter of Tom Ridge-Ts Fast Forward. “She got a good trip, and she had plenty of trot in the lane. She was flying.”
He said the filly would race in next week’s Arden Downs during Grand Circuit Week at The Meadows.
True Valentine wired the final field in 1:58.4, winning by two and three-quarter lengths over Aspidistra Hanover and Feather Your Nest. Ron Pierce drove the homebred Cantab Hall-Yankee Valentine miss for trainer Jimmy Takter and owner Brittany Farms.
In the $22,500 Preferred Handicap Pace, Fred And Ginger turned in the fastest mile ever by an older stallion at The Meadows when he wired the field in 1:49.2 for Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owners Howard Taylor, Robert Feldman, Edwin Gold and Jerry Silva. Hickory Big Red was second, one and a half lengths in arrears, while Jojo N Goliath earned show. The time knocked a tick off the mark — the oldest on The Meadows’ books — that Riyadh established in 1996.
Palone drove five winners on the 15-race card while Burke enjoyed a four-bagger.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Friday, when the card features eight divisions of a $160,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series for freshman colt and gelding pacers. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(With files from The Meadows)