Dorsoduro Hanover and Done Well each locked up a berth in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes championship for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers by winning a split in Monday’s final preliminary leg, a $162,012 event known as the Tarport Effrat, at The Meadows. The $252,000 final is set for September 2 at Pocono.
The winner of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows, Dorsoduro Hanover entered the Tarport Effrat in second place in PASS standings and so wasn’t under pressure to win. Nevertheless, he unveiled a new wrinkle. After a series of tough trips vying for the early lead, he ducked for Matt Kakaley, getting away last in the six-horse field.
“They were stepping out of there pretty hard, and my horse races good no matter where he’s at,” Kakaley said. “I wasn’t worried about sitting last when they were going :26 to the quarter. If they had gone slow early, I would have stepped him out of there.”
The Somebeachsomewhere-Deer Valley Miss gelding followed the live cover of Wes Delight, then peeled wide and downed him by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.2, with Macadoodledoo third.
Ron Burke trains Dorsoduro Hanover, who lifted his career bankroll to $560,862, for Burke Racing Stable, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Wingfield Five.
In contrast, Done Well was on the PASS bubble, having competed in only one leg before Monday. While he won that, he needed points, big time, to nail down a spot in the final
Tim Tetrick and the son of Well Said-Dagnabit Hanover took matters into their own hands, vaulting to the point and holding off the late challenge of Shadow Cat to defeat him by a neck in 1:51.1. A rallying Larry Karr completed the ticket.
“I think he had some health issues,” Tetrick said. “He raced good in his Adios elimination, and then in the final he was atrocious. The last two races, he’s come back. He toughed it out today. I always thought he was better chasing, but in that spot, I have to do what I have to do.”
Done Well has now banked $371,762 for trainer Brian Brown and owners James Stambaugh, Wingfield Brothers, Milt Leeman and Alan Keith.
While the stallion series event was Monday’s sub feature, it provided much of the excitement, including: a Brett Miller sweep (two for trainer Chris Oakes), all in the Lightning Lane; a stake record-matching victory in 1:50.3 by Terror Atthe Beach, an improbable 55-1 upset by PCs Expresso, who spotted the field perhaps 15 lengths after breaking at the gate.
Terror Atthe Beach equalled the record of Spider Man Hanover by stalking Winston and blowing by in the stretch to score for Oakes and owners Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold. Aleppo Hanover closed well for second, 1-3/4 lengths back, while Winston saved show.
“Chris told me the horse has speed but is not a 1:49 pacer, so if you land on the front, try to give him a breather,” Miller said. “I don’t know the horse, but he sure felt like he likes the two hole.”
PCs Expresso had been competing primarily in overnights, but when he improved with the recent addition of Lasix, trainer Paul Kennedy and owners Paint Creek Farms and Robyn Kennedy decided to roll the dice on the stake.
“The stake was there, and there was no overnight for him, so I just put him in. I’ve wasted $200 on plenty of other things,” Kennedy said. “I figured our only chance of getting a cheque was to stay flat, but he raced good.”
The son of Western Ideal-Palazzo Princess caught the field following the miscue, saved ground along the inside and made up four lengths in the stretch to score in 1:53.2, a neck better than Daddyofemall. No Easy Day earned show.
A Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Oakes for Tom Hill, Bobby K Hill captured the other split with a Lightning Lane charge that carried him 1-1/4 lengths past heavy favourite Go West Go Fast in 1:51.3, with Yupper third.
“Chris told me this one would be better if I could give him a trip,” Miller said. “In the last turn, I didn’t think I would have enough time to catch the leader. But when he saw daylight, he was gone.”
Dave Palone and Mike Wilder each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.
Stake racing continues Tuesday at The Meadows when the program features a pair of events for sophomore filly trotters: a $165,139 PASS known as the Meadow Bright and a $60,000 PA Stallion Series stake. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)
Just do not understand why
Just do not understand why the 3 year old colt pacers are called Glamour Boys especially when the Ladies are ruling Harness racing ;)