Donttellmeagain zipped to the lead and rolled home in 1:52.1 — fastest mile this year by a freshman pacing gelding on a five-eighths-mile track — in Tuesday afternoon’s Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake at The Meadows.
The event for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers was contested over seven divisions, with Beach Boogie, Bettors Western, Maconupwithedragon, Macs Jackpot, Ponderingjacksfame and Jo Pas Somebeach also taking $20,000 splits.
Tim Tetrick won three divisions, including a pair (Macs Jackpot, Jo Pas Somebeach) for trainer Jim Campbell. Marcus Miller piloted five winners on the 14-race card, including two stake splits (Beach Boogie, Maconupwithedragon) for his dad, trainer Erv Miller, and one (Ponderingjacksfame) for trainer Les Givens.
There was little question that Donttellmeagain was best in his division, as he crushed Bettors Outlaw by 9-1/2 lengths, with Dances Cruiser third. Jim King, Jr., whose wife, Jo Ann Looney-King, trains the son of Dragon Again-Donttellmewhattodo for Paton Racing Stables, said he wasn’t shocked by the youngster’s speed.
“It doesn’t come as a real big surprise,” King said. “I thought he could win, but I didn’t know he would be quite that impressive. He’s awfully small, but he has real high speed.”
Beach Boogie made little impression in his last outing, a PA Sires Stake division, but he was easily the best in his stallion series split, quarter-poling to the front and scoring in 1:52.2. No Talking was second, 2-1/2 lengths back, while Armed Robbery earned show.
“I’m very pleased — not surprised but pleased,” Marcus Miller said. “He has a big motor. He’s a pretty big horse, so he’s figuring out where his legs are. If he figures it all out, he probably can go into sires stakes later in the year.”
Ronald Michelon, David J. Miller and Lawrence Means campaign Beach Boogie, a son of Somebeachsomewhere-Dance Until Dawn.
Bettors Western was hammered down to 1-9 and performed like a heavy, confident favourite, prevailing on the front end in 1:53.3 for Dave Palone, trainer Chris Oakes and owner Synerco Ventures. Southwind Yukon was second, 3-1/2 lengths in arrears, with On Cruise Control third.
“I thought if I kept him out of trouble, he was much the best,” Palone said. “I think he’ll make a sires stakes colt — just needs a little education. He’s real smart.”
In the $20,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, Barn Girl worked hard to find the pocket, then converted her journey to victory in 1:54.3 over Bessie. Princess Pablano finished third.
Palone drove for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura. The four-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Turquoise Sweetie now boasts $284,556 in career earnings.
Wednesday’s program at The Meadows features the Albatross, a $190,272 PASS for freshman colt and gelding pacers. First post is 1 p.m.
(The Meadows)