Lyons Sentinel blasted through the soggy Lightning Lane to score for Tim Tetrick in 1:51, matching the stake record for the Meadow Cheer—a $183,040 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for freshmen filly pacers—Tuesday, Aug. 13 at The Meadows. Rocknificent worked hard to capture the other division, giving Tetrick a stake sweep.
Trainer Jim King, Jr. received Lyons Sentinel in mid-July when owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound moved her from the stable of Gareth Dowse. King said he made only minor rigging changes for the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Tutu Hanover.
“She came to me a pretty good filly,” King said. “She’s kind of limber necked, so we added a pair of line poles, and we ended up putting a set of knee boots on her. I like her determination. On the front end, she’ll be loose-lining. When a horse comes to her, she bucks right up. She’s a fighter.”
In the Meadow Cheer, she yielded to the pocket once Baby Your The Best quarter-poled to the top. Though the track had been rendered “good” by intermittent rain, Lyons Sentinel had little trouble overpowering Baby Your The Best and downing her by 2 lengths. More Than Kute finished third. It was the second PASS win for Lyons Sentinel, who matched the stake record of Bettor’s Up and vaulted over $100,000 in earnings.
When she won a July 20 PASS split, Rocknificent was forced to close outside after a slowish 58.1 first half. On Tuesday, it was déjà vu all over again; the half went in :58.1, with Rocknificent chasing outside. This time she was able to follow the live first-over cover of Beyond Ecstasy.
“When I saw that half, I thought, ‘here we go again,’” said Linda Toscano, who trains the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Rocklamation for Enviro Stables, South Mountain Stables and Little E LLC. “I saw her pace the last half in 54 the last time she was here. I think she can do it; I just don’t want her to do it too often.
“She looks the part, she has the pedigree and she acts like she likes doing what she’s doing."
Rocknificent kicked by Beyond Ecstasy in the lane to defeat her by a half length in 1:52.2 with Marloe Hanover third.
Aaron Merriman collected four wins on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday when the card features a $994.84 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 1:05 PM.