I Did It Myway opted to control the mile rather than enjoy a pocket trip, a decision that paid when he scored in a stake-fastest 1:52.1 in the $165,257 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows on Saturday (July 3). The event for freshman colt and gelding pacers, known as the Albatross, was contested over three divisions, with Night Hawk and Wearinmysixshooter taking the other splits.
I Did It Myway, who entered the Albatross off a front-stepping Tompkins-Geers win in his career debut, shot to the early lead from the rail but yielded to JMs Finaltreasure, the 3-5 favourite. Winning driver Todd McCarthy, however, did not consider that the garden spot.
“He cut the mile in his first start at the Meadowlands,” McCarthy said. “Any horse that can do that in his first start and get home like he did shows a lot of class. I was happy to put him on top. He had a bit of a look-around at the top of the stretch, and I had to get after him a little bit. But he came on really strongly when I asked him.”
The son of Captaintreacherous-Flyme To The Moon made the move stand up, holding off JMs Finaltreasure by a head, with Birthday third. Tony Alagna trains the winner for Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Don Latore and Alagna And Fodera Racing.
For his career bow, Night Hawk found himself facing the sons of four millionaire moms — Camille, See You At Peelers, Shelliscape, Economy Terror. Night Hawk’s dam Night Music, on the other hand, retired a career earner of $52,240. The Betting Line colt stuck it to the rich kids, using an extended quarter-pole move to reach the lead for David Miller and scoring in 1:54. All The Chips was second, beaten three-quarter lengths, while Treacherous Tom completed the ticket.
Brian Brown, who conditions Night Hawk for William Donovan, Acadia Farms, Sbrocco, In The Gym and Lombardo Racing, indicated he was happy with the performance.
“He was more relaxed today,” Brown said. “Relaxed is always a good thing. But being the worrywart that I am, I’ll give him a work up to make sure everything’s okay. If it is, he’ll go on to the next sires stake leg.”
First-time starter Wearinmysixshooter saved ground, then blew by the field late to prevail by six lengths in 1:53. Tim Tetrick piloted the son of Captaintreacherous-Just Like Kate for trainer Nancy Takter and owner Perry Soderberg.
$60,000 PA Stallion Series — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers
Boardwalk Bet, Captain Cowboy and Dreaming Of Lou captured divisions in Saturday’s sub-feature.
When runaway leader C-Bet Hanover threw down a 1:24.2 three-quarters, Boardwalk Bet found himself near the back of the pack, 7 1/2 lengths behind. But Miller thought the son of Betting Line-Life Is A Beach was still alive for the victory.
“He’d been qualifying real good, and the pace was good,” Miller said. “I figured he would pick up a good piece of it. He was strong right through the stretch.”
Boardwalk Bet rallied wide to down Nautical Hanover by three-quarter lengths in 1:53.2 with Bring The Bling third. Eddie Sager trains the winner for Howard Taylor and Gary Weidelman.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday (July 7) when the program features a $6,992.28 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5.
(The Meadows)