Allstar Partner and Mcwicked began the day tied for second in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes points. They ended the day still tied but atop the leader board after winning their respective divisions of a $265,408 PASS at The Meadows in the final preliminary leg.
Allstar Partner earned bragging rights for the day by scoring in 1:51.4, fastest mile this year by a two-year-old gelding on a five-eighths-mile track. The PASS championships for two-year-olds, each with a $260,000 purse, are set for Sept. 15 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The stake, known as the Tyler B, was contested over four divisions, with Tellitlikeitis and Lets Drink On It taking the other splits.
Allstar Partner roared to the early lead for Corey Callahan and never experienced an anxious moment, defeating the-pocket-sitting The Lunch Pail by 1-1/2 lengths, with Somesizesomestyle third. Limelight Beach, winner of his first three PASS splits, never could mount an effective rally from mid-pack, finishing fourth and dropping to third in PASS rankings.
“He can get a little lazy on you and kind of relax,” Callahan said of Allstar Partner. “I gave him a couple taps going to the three-quarter pole. He goes anytime you ask him to go. If I’d needed more, he’d have given me some more. We’ll have to see where we draw (in the championship), but I think he’s as good as any of them.”
John Butenschoen trains the son of Four Starzzz Shark-Faithful Ideal for VIP Internet Stable and Michael Foti.
Mcwicked also had an easy time of it, as the son of Mcardle-Western Sahara quarter-poled to the lead and prevailed by three lengths in 1:53 for Andy Miller, trainer Julie Miller and owners Andy Miller Stable, Paymaq Racing and Hanna Miller. Invictus Hanover and Mattamerican completed the ticket.
Tellitlikeitis needed a big race to make the championship — he was tied for 11th entering the Tyler B — and he delivered one, pulling the pocket early for Yannick Gingras and triumphing in 1:52.3. Wicked Business was second, 1-1/2 lengths back, while Avalanche Hanover earned show.
“When I qualified him, I thought he was one of the best,” Gingras said. “But he went into a spell there for like two starts when he really was not that good. It looks like he’s bounced back. He likes to follow. If you keep him on a helmet, he gets home good.”
Jimmy Takter conditions the homebred son of Well Said-Kikikatie for Lothlorien.
Lets Drink On It, tied for sixth in PASS points before the stake, cemented his position in the finals with an overpowering front-end victory in 1:52. Sometimes Said, the other member of that sixth-place tie, made the championship by finishing second, 1-1/2 lengths in arrears, with At Press Time third.
“He shows a lot of front-end speed, but he’s really a two-finger horse,” said Joe Seekman, who trains the son of Art Official-Letmedowneasy for Martin Scharf, Larry Bond and Hal Hewitt. “We got him out of the ‘Scratch & Dent.’ He had curbs in the back (when we bought him). We brought him home, broke him and then pin-fired those. They’ve never bothered him.”
Dan Rawlings and Mike Wilder each enjoyed a triple on the 16-race card.
Stake racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday with a $100,000 PA Stallion Series event for two-year-old filly pacers. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)