Parked the first quarter, Western Redhot still had enough oomph to pour through the Lightning Lane and capture the fastest division of Friday’s $140,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake at The Meadows.
The event for freshman colt and gelding pacers was contested over seven divisions, with Owen Hanover, Lukes Rocketman, Doubleshottahott, Arts Dragon, Autocorrect Hanover and Nimble And Quick taking the other splits. Dan Rawlings enjoyed a stake triple (Western Redhot, Owen Hanover, Arts Dragon) while Jim Morand (Autocorrect Hanover, Nimble And Quick) and trainer Peter Foley (Lukes Rocketman, Arts Dragon) each fashioned a stake double.
After surrendering the early lead, Western Redhot kicked through inside to score in 1:53.4, half a length better than Overtime Hanover, with Viceroy Hanover third. It was the maiden-breaker for the Western Ideal-Redhot Pepperpot gelding, who finished the race with a flat tire.
“He’s a big ol’ lazy colt,” said Dirk Simpson, who trains Western Redhot — a $4,500 acquisition — for Desyllas Racing, William Beck and Carol Rieken. “He doesn’t even know he’s working yet. He’s lazy and doesn’t know how fast he can go yet. He comes from a great Illinois family that’s been solid for 20 years.”
Rawlings elected to stay inside with Owen Hanover, and the decision paid off when the son of Cams Card Shark-On Her Way found late racing room outside to score his initial career victory in 1:54.2. Inforce finished second, hald a length back, while early leader Somkinda Hanover earned show.
“The half was too weak — that’s the only reason I didn’t pull,” Rawlings said. “If I’d come first up, it would have taken all the air out of him.”
Doug Lewis conditions Owen Hanover for Jerry Clark and Tammy Crescenze.
Lukes Rocketman was making only his second lifetime start, but he closed like a seasoned pro for Mike Wilder, rallying from last to triumph in 1:54.3. Yolo Hanover was a neck back in second while On The Gogh completed the ticket.
“He came one heckuva half,” Wilder said. “I just tried to keep him covered up. I was in no position to move him off those fractions, so I put him in the flow down the backside. I had a handful of horse. He’s a very nice colt with a great attitude.”
Shirley LeVin owns Lukes Rocketman, a son of Well Said-Smart Card.
In the $24,800 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace, Do Me Honor rebounded from two subpar performances to triumph in a sharp 1:51.4 for Wilder and owner/trainer Bill Bercury. Stuck Like Glue and Certified Ideal rounded out the ticket. The seven-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Rei-Do Me Right extended her career bankroll to $612,898. It was one of five wins for Wilder on the 14-race program.
Friday’s card also featured the $10,000 West Regional Final of the C.K.G. Billings series for amateur drivers, and Bob “The Lumber Man” Troyer made kindling of the field, moving three-wide down the backside with Marty Wollam’s Heza Rube to score in 1:57.3. Hannah Miller (Casanova Lindy) was two lengths back in second, with Stephen Oldford (Bold Strike) third.
“I didn’t want to get too far behind, so I thought, we’ll keep him covered up,” Troyer said of the five-year-old Master Levec-Rubicella gelding. “He likes to go with cover. I just didn’t want to get trapped. It worked out.”
Troyer was aided by his familiarity with Heza Rube. He not only bred and raced the winner’s mother, but he also bred and, for a time, owned and campaigned Heza Rube.
“I bought his mother in Germany and raced her here,” Troyer said. “This is her first foal.”
Saturday’s program at The Meadows feature three eliminations for the $525,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids Presented by Coors Lite. The elims go as races four through six and are part of a Pick 4 with a $7,500 total pool guarantee. In addition, the card features three other stakes: $200,000 PASS (est) for three-year-old filly pacers; $60,000 PA Stallion Series for three-year-old filly pacers; $200,000 (est) PASS for freshman colt and gelding pacers. Of the 15 races on Saturday’s program, 13 are stakes. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)