Dragon Eddy quarter-poled to the lead, then dug in late to capture the fastest division of Tuesday’s $236,060 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows.
The event, known as the Albatross, was contested over five divisions, with Lost For Words, Mcjagersonthemove, Mcardles Lightning and Yankee Bounty taking the other splits.
Dragon Eddy, who won a PA All Stars division in his career debut, moved to the front after getting away third for Mike Simons and was able to withstand the late charge of first-time starter Elwell, downing him by a head in 1:52.4, fastest this year by a 2-year-old gelding on a five-eighths-mile track. Blood Brother was third.
“He does everything right, and as a Dragon Again, he’s got that early speed. I like that,” Simons said. “He’s a quick learner, real sensible. I wanted to be first or second; in third, too many negative things can happen. It was a quick first half, but he held tough.”
John Butenschoen trains Dragon Eddy, a son of Dragon Again-Jaska Hanover, for William Wiswell, Jean Groehlen, Eugene Schick and Edward Bardowski.
Lost For Words made up 8-1/2 lengths in the final quarter and prevailed despite doing just about everything he could in the stretch to break stride. He scored in 1:53.4 over Wakizashi Hanover, while Badiou Hanover earned show.
Winning driver David Miller indicated Lost For Words ran in and might have been interfering — new tricks by the youngster, according to trainer Brian Brown.
“He’s never done that to us before, so I really don’t know what the problem was,” Brown said of his $50,000 yearling acquisition. “First time at high speed? He’s been some pretty quick quarters before. I’ll talk to David before making any decisions.”
Country Club Acres, William Robinson, Richard Lombardo and Strollin Stable own Lost For Words, a son of Well Said-Thou Shalt Not.
Mcjagersonthemove got no satisfaction in the PA All Stars, where he dropped back early. But following a downpour that rendered the track sloppy, Brett Miller changed tactics on him, sending him to the front. He scored easily in 1:55, a slop-distorted time that doesn’t reflect the winner’s dominance. Rich Wisdom rallied for second, five lengths back, with Cardiac Fashion completing the ticket.
“I don’t try to tell drivers a whole lot, but I asked Brett to put him in the race at some point,” said Willard Reynolds, who conditions the son of Mcardle-Grand Fancy for Mark Howard. “He’s got a lot of personality. He likes to play, but he always likes his job.”
In the $18,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, Tamarind ground out yet another first-over victory, scoring in 1:56.1 for Aaron Merriman and owner/trainer Bill Bercury. Holy Halibut followed Tamarind’s cover for second, beaten a neck, with Big And Little third.
It was the ninth win this year for the six-year-old son of Angus Hall-Spicegirl Kosmos, who now has banked $582,813 in his career.
Dave Palone drove four winners — three for trainer Ron Burke — on the 16-race card.
Wednesday’s program at The Meadows features a $100,000 PA Stallions Series stake for freshman filly trotters. First post is 12:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)