The undefeated Pure Country completed her sweep of four Pennsylvania Sires Stakes preliminary legs, and Newborn Sassy set track and stakes records in Wednesday’s PASS action at The Meadows.
The $212,776 event for freshman filly pacers, known as the Meadow Cheer, was contested over four divisions, with Shezarealdeal and Call Me Queen Be taking the other splits.
Pure Country was on top early in her split when Skinny Dipper made a nasty break that scattered the back markers and left I Said Diamonds, sitting on Pure Country’s bumper, as the only real competition.
“I heard the horse in the three-hole make a break,” said winning driver Brett Miller. “When I looked at the toteboard, I saw there was a big gap, so I thought I should take advantage of that and go a slow second quarter. I think she can go with anybody. She doesn’t have to be on the front. In my opinion, she can race better off the pace. I’ve been putting her on the front to stay out of trouble.”
Pure Country triumphed in 1:52.3, three-quarters of a length better than I Said Diamonds. Hug A Dragoness earned show. Jimmy Takter trains Pure Country, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Montana who’s now perfect in five starts, for Diamond Creek Racing.
After launching her career poorly in a July 9 PASS leg, Newborn Sassy retreated to the PA Stallion Series, where she gained confidence and put her game together. In the Meadow Cheer, she saved ground, then zipped home for Tim Tetrick in 1:51.1, fastest ever for a two-year-old filly pacer at The Meadows. Weeper held the previous track and stakes mark of 1:51.4. Early leader Shesasmokinlady was second, three and three-quarter lengths back, with Peachy third.
“We started her out a little steep there — she wasn’t quite as ready as she should have been, perhaps,” said Jim King Jr., who conditions the daughter of Western Ideal-Sass Newton — a $37,000 yearling acquisition — and owns with CC Racing. “It was a tough winter in Illinois where she started, so we got a little bit of a late start. She’s developed very well.”
Shezarealdeal grabbed her second PASS win with an uncovered backside burst that carried her to victory in 1:52, one and a half lengths better than Princess Fabulosa. Yankee Moonshine finished fourth-placed-third.
“The horse on the front didn’t look that good,” winning driver Marcus Miller said, “so I thought if I could keep pacing hard when we hit the turn, I could get by her. She’s really quick, so I wasn’t too surprised. I put her on the front too many times in a row. Today, just following for a half, she was brave.”
Robin Cruise conditions the daughter of Western Ideal-Shezarealcaesar for Nick Surick Stable and KDM Stables.
Call Me Queen Be earned her third straight PASS win as she drew off by four and a half lengths in 1:52.3. Ivy League was second and Kiss Me Onthebeach finished third.
Scott Zeron drove the Somebeachsomewhere-Preppy Party Girl filly for trainer Ross Croghan and owners Dana Parham and Let It Ride Stables Inc.
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace, Certified Ideal made it two straight when she found late racing room to score in 1:51, matching her career-best. Angels Delight was a nose back in second while Just A Bee completed the ticket.
Tony Hall piloted the five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Arebas Last, who boosted her career bankroll to $391,283, for trainer Randy Bendis and co-owners Mike Novosel Jr., Tom Pollack and James Walton. It was one of three wins for Hall on the 15-race program.
Friday’s card at The Meadows features the $174,000 Moni Maker for three-year-old filly trotters, which has drawn Hambletonian runner-up Mission Brief and Hambletonian Oaks winner Wild Honey. The Moni Maker goes as race three on the program, which begins at 6:55 p.m.
(With files from The Meadows)