On the eve of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, Hollywood Casino at The Meadows staged a pair of Arden Downs Grand Circuit stakes for freshman trotters. As expected, Wapiti Blue Chip was the big star of the show. Already the track record holder for two-year-old gelding trotters, he added a stakes mark to his ever-expanding resume.
Hammered down to 1-5 in his $27,397 Robert J. Key Trot division, Wapiti Blue Chip was away second before Dave Palone moved him at the quarter. The long-striding International Moni-Make It Blue Chip gelding effortlessly widened his lead thereafter and triumphed in 1:55.2, 8-1/2 lengths better than Ill Have A Double, with Owls Nest third.
It wasn’t as fast as his 1:54.2 track record, but the time knocked a tick from the stakes mark established by Dancinginthedark in 2020.
Mahlon Martin, who previously indicated the rookie will race primarily in Pennsylvania this year, trains him for Ashley Burslem, Steven Mullen and Gregory Garton.
“I just wanted to babysit him around there so he could do it as easy as he could,” said Palone. “Now I know how he broke the track record. He was well within himself.”
Just how facile was the victory?
“I’m pretty sure you could’ve done that,” Palone teased the local flak.
Bombay Tom found himself in a more competitive split, but the Bar Hopping-Miss Wilia gelding was up to it, using two moves to notch a 4-3/4-length victory in 1:57.2 for Ronnie Wrenn Jr. Livin It Up and Manhattan Moni rounded out the ticket.
“He’s shown constant improvement,” said Norm Parker, who conditions Bombay Tom for Bart Brice. Todd Brice, Charles Receski and Ed Receski. “With his attitude now, he always seems like he wants to go forward. When you ask him, he goes on.”
Parker also paused to remember the contributions of the late owner/breeder Bob Key, for whom the stakes is named. Key sent many horses from his large stable to Parker, who hasn’t forgotten it.
“Bob was always good to me,” said Parker as he hoisted his winner’s plaque. “That’s what makes this so special.”
Arrowhead Hanover took the third division for driver Anthony MacDonald, trainer Tim Twaddle and owner Thestable Arrowheadhanover. The International Moni-Aarena Hanover gelding won in in 1:56 flat by 2-3/4 lengths over King Of Green, with Bell Hall back in third.
On paper, Blueberry appeared to lay over the field in the first Edward M. Ryan Filly Trot division, based on her two in-the-money finishes in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits. The actual race provided no surprises, as the daughter of Father Patrick-Perfect Image jogged in a career-best 1:57. Bringontheconfetti was 3-3/4 lengths back in second, with Dianne Hanover third.
“It didn’t look like she was in tough, so I didn’t want to use her,” said Brian Zendt, who piloted Blueberry for trainer Doug Snyder and owner Geraldine Poerio. “She can save those hard races for later in the year. That was pretty easy on her. She was really hot starting out, but she’s been behaving so well.”
A two-race maiden entering the Ed Ryan, Payback Moni nevertheless attracted 3-5 play. She justified that support by pulling the pocket near the three-quarters for Brady Brown and going on to edge the game Country Victory by a nose in 1:57.2. Can It Be Magic earned show.
“I was out the whole first turn,” said Brown. “I was being a little careful with her because she ran last week. I was confident in her when I pulled the pocket, but the filly on the front end fought on harder than I thought she would.”
Steve Schoeffel trains the daughter of International Moni-Blurred for Kathy Schoeffel, Dan Goehle and Jim Reuther.
Saturday’s Adios final anchors a blockbuster card that features six Grand Circuit stakes. In addition, the program offers $200,000 in pool guarantees spread over 11 wagers. First post is 11:45 a.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association; photo for Wapiti Blue Chip from a previous win)