Sweet Gal blazed to victory in 1:49 in Friday’s Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, matching the stakes record. Rocket Deo took the other division in the event, known as the Romola Hanover, giving Andrew McCarthy and trainer Brett Pelling a stakes sweep.
Dandys Mercy got the jump on Sweet Gal down the backside, but the daughter of Sweet Lou-Beach Gal threw down a :27.3 final quarter to defeat Dandys Mercy by half a length, with Canigetalouploup third. The time matched the record established by Blue Diamond Eyes in 2021.
“I was hoping I could get out in the last turn,” said McCarthy. “I needed an exit plan. She’s been unfortunate with some bad draws against some of the best fillies in the country, but she can definitely go with them.”
Bill Donovan and Mark Mullen own Sweet Gal, who earned her third win from 11 starts this season and lifted her career earnings over $200,000.
Hambletonian Day's Shady Daisy Stakes winner Rocket Deo appeared comfortably ahead at the three-quarters, but attacking first over was none other than My Girl EJ, who two weeks ago became the fastest female ever at The Meadows by capturing the Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo in 1:48.4. Could Rocket Deo hold off that champion? She could and she did, defeating My Girl EJ by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:49.1. Lou Lou completed the ticket.
“It worked out were I kind of got a cheap second quarter [:28.4],” McCarthy said of the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Rocklamation. “I figured it would be a little bit of a horse race from there. I figured she’d give me a mile like that, but I still have a lot of respect for My Girl EJ.”
Morrison Racing Stables and John Fielding campaign Rocket Deo, who is seven-for-nine this year and now has more than $275,000 in lifetime earnings.
The Romola Hanover headlined a blockbuster Friday card that also featured three other stakes events.
Security Protected erased the bad taste from his disappointing Hambletonia final, where he broke stride early and finished last, by notching a 6-1/2-length win in 1:52.4 in a $99,147 PASS division for sophomore male trotters. Greenspan and Breezy Hall rounded out the ticket in the event known as the Super Bowl.
Security Protected got a break when Supernova Hanover made a stand-still break on top, but winning driver Scott Zeron said his colt was primed to win even without the unexpected gift.
“I was in a great position with some fast fractions,” said Zeron. “He’s a high-quality horse. I think it would have been a great race down the lane.”
Marcus Melander trains the son of Father Patrick-Thatsnotmyname, who is now four-for-nine this season and vaulted over $550,000 in career earnings, for Brad Grant and Order By Stable Ab.
In the other division of the Super Bowl, Blackhawk Zette prevailed in 1:53.3 for Matt Kakaley, trainer Bob Baggitt Jr. and owner J L Sadowski LLC. The son of Cantab Hall-Zette Starlet soared over $280,000 in lifetime earnings. He’s finished in the money in all 11 outings this year, winning seven times.
Three $27,778 divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for three-year-old filly pacers were also contested.
Winless in 10 previous starts this year, Melmar Melmar found a late seam, poured through and triumphed in 1:51.2 for the evening’s hot duo of McCarthy and Pelling. Chiapanecas was second, beaten half a length, with Donegal Spirit third. South Merrick Stables owns Melmar Melmar, a daughter of Stay Hungry-Kiss Dont Bite.
Pressure Cooker (1:51.3) and Lyons Legend (1:51) captured the other splits.
In one of two $27,778 divisions of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for three-year-old trotting colts, Green Pastures shattered Team Six’s stakes record of 1:54.3 with his five-length win in 1:53.2 for Dexter Dunn, trainer Per Engblom and owners VIP Internet Stable, Engblom Stable, R A W Equine and Marco Greico. Thaler Hanover and Going Green finished second and third, respectively.
The son of Greenshoe-Southwind Angelica had only two wins in 13 prior starts this year, and Engblom thinks he knows why.
“He’s been his own worst enemy so far in his career,” said Engblom. “He was scared of everything, very immature. But his last few races, he’s put everything together. I always knew he was a fast horse and he’s beginning to show it.”
Activation took the other stakes division in 1:55.3 for Hunter Myers and trainer Melanie O’Donnell, who owns the Father Patrick-Repentance gelding with Corey Hendricks and Andy Rickert.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes on Wednesday, with first post at 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)