Goes Down Smooth and Klutzy won their Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits Wednesday (Aug. 21) at The Meadows, nailing down berths in the final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
On Sept. 7, The Meadows will host all four PASS $250,000 finals — and all four $50,000 consolations — for three-year-olds.
Goes Down Smooth was the dominant performer in the Super Bowl, as the $167,002 stakes event is known. The 1-5 favourite quarter-poled to the top for Matt Kakaley and drew off to an insurmountable lead. The Muscle Hill-Peach Martini gelding scored in a career-best 1:53, 7-3/4 lengths better than MacMorris Hanover, with Ginger Tree Skyr third.
“He’s getting better all the time,” Kakaley said. “He’s smarter. He lets me do whatever I want with him now. He used to get a little hot leaving, but he’s been a gentleman lately.”
Ron Burke trains the winner, who now has banked $193,804, for Burke Racing Stable, William Switala, Joseph Martin and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
At two, Klutzy showed intermittent flashes of brilliance that suggested he might become one of the tops of his division. But winning driver Andy Miller acknowledged that Klutzy’s talent has been intermittent this year as well.
“I wouldn’t say he’s disappointed us, but he hasn’t stepped up as much as I thought he might,” Miller said. “But he’s done okay. He had quite a bit of go today, and I thought they were tired on the front, so I thought I had a good shot.”
The son of Cantab Hall and Upside Hanover was sharp in the Super Bowl, moving first-over to overtake Final Claim and down him by a length in 1:54.3, a lifetime mark. Explosive Form completed the ticket.
Julie Miller trains Klutzy, who extended his career bankroll to $179,262, for Stroy Inc.
$40,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series — Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings
Faithfulandtrue and Kates Massive each took a division of the sub-feature, and each had to work hard for the winner’s cheque.
Faithfulandtrue made the point with a quarter-pole move but had to resist late pressure from Consus Victory to score in 1:54.4, a career best, for Mike Cole, trainer Joseph Columbo and owner George & Tina Dennis Racing. Crossfit earned show.
“When he races like that, he usually doesn’t let anybody get to him, but I had to chase him today,” Cole said. “But he fought him off. He’s matured a lot lately and turned into a racehorse.”
He indicated the Donato Hanover-Seducer Hall gelding likely would be turned out.
Kates Massive had to take a seat after an abortive try for the lead from post 8, then was forced to come first-over up the backside. He had just enough left in the tank to prevail in 1:55.2 for Dave Palone, trainer Ray Paver and owner Harry Horowitz. Stonebridge Symba was second, beaten a head, with Ragtime Hanover third.
“We knew the eight-hole would be a tough spot, that they would all be looking to line up behind him,” Palone said. “He fought for me when I moved him from third. He’s a nice colt. I’d like to try him without hopples one of these times.”
Live racing at The Meadows resumes with a special Friday (Aug. 23) twilight card that features a pair of stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings: a $170,058 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and a $40,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event.
In addition, the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) is sponsoring 'First Responders Night' to honour the region’s first responders and provide them and their families with an entertaining night at the races. All first responders in uniform or with appropriate ID may receive free wagering vouchers and race programs, while those whose names are drawn in a lottery will participate in a match race. First post Friday is 5:30 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)