Southwind Roulette and Well Hello There won Pennsylvania Sires Stake divisions Friday at The Meadows, giving Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke a sweep of the $223,960 event for two-year-old filly pacers.
Although Southwind Roulette captured her third PASS split and assured herself a spot in the championship, her trip Friday wasn’t as memorable as her July 18 victory here, when she had to negotiate her way through a flock of angry geese. Gingras remembered — and was afraid his filly would, too.
“No joke — I looked for them at the half,” Gingras said. “Even though she didn’t get scared the first time, I wanted to make sure they weren’t there.”
But there was little drama Friday, as Southwind Roulette quarter-poled to the lead and scored comfortably in 1:53.1, three-quarters of a length ahead of her stablemate, Kays Dragon Lady. Aria Hanover finished third, snapping her streak of PASS victories at three.
“I didn’t want to be first up, so I made my move to the front and said beat me if you can,” Gingras said. “She’s not the biggest filly, but she does have a big engine. Every time I’ve called on her, she’s always answered.
Bradley Grant of Milton, Ont. and Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania own the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Southwind Rio.
Gingras employed different tactics with Well Hello There, rushing her to the lead from the rail. The daughter of Well Said-Helen Of Leda easily controlled the mile, prevailing in 1:53 for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Our Horse Cents Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Ginger Tree Alex was one and three-quarter lengths back in second while Doctor Terror rallied from last for show.
“I didn’t want to sit third, so I left hard the first eighth,” Gingras said. “There are a lot of good fillies around, but she fits right there with them.”
In the $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Visible Gold shot the Lightning Lane to score in 1:51.2 for Dave Palone, Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and RTC Stables Inc. The first-over Giant Sculpture was second, three-quarters of a length in arrears, while Sam Hill completed the ticket despite finishing with a flat tire.
Visible Gold, a six-year-old Bettors Delight-Gabrielle gelding, soared over $300,000 in career earnings.
Brian Zendt drove four winners on the 15-race card.
(With files from The Meadows)