Rose blistered the mile in 1:50.2, fastest ever by a freshman filly pacer at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows in her $122,625 division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) leg known as the Meadow Cheer on Friday, Aug. 23. Blessed Hanover captured the other $122,077 division, giving trainer Ron Burke a Meadow Cheer sweep.
Papi Grad was out to extend her career unbeaten streak to six and sweep all four PASS preliminary legs, but Rose and Yannick Gingras had other ideas. When Papi Grad ducked from post seven and got away seventh, Rose had the field right where she wanted it. She quarter-poled to the point for Gingras, and though Papi Grad made a valiant first-over bid, the daughter of Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose defeated her comfortably by 4-1/4 lengths, with Beckoning Yankee third.
The time knocked a tick from both the track and stakes records established last year by Lyons Legend.
“When Papi Grad took back, it made my job easier,” said Gingras. "But I’m telling you, don’t discount Rose. That’s the first time I’ve had her on the front and she raced really good. But she’s just as good following a helmet and she can sprint like no other. I wouldn’t trade her for anyone.”
Rose, who boasts a six-figure bankroll with four wins from five starts, races for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Jack Piatt III and Larry Karr.
Blessed Hanover was third inside as the field turned for home in her division — exactly where winning driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. wanted to be.
“I was happy to be following the two horses I was behind,” said Wrenn. “I wasn’t going to move earlier, except maybe in the last turn, but there was no room. I was content sitting third and shaking loose late. If you keep her covered up until late, she has a good kick home.”
Blessed Hanover poured through the Lightning Lane and won her third straight in a career-best 1:51.2, a head better than Beach Rules. Royally Hot completed the ticket.
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Bill Donovan campaign the daughter of Always B Miki-Bettor B Lucky who is five-for-six and also sports a six-figure bankroll.
The $252,000 USD (est.) PASS championship for freshman filly pacers is set for Sept. 5 at The Meadows.
Stevie Hanover had a stakes record on her mind as well — and she got it in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series, triumphing in 1:51.2 to lower the previous mark of 1:51.3 Odds On Whitney set in 2020. Brett Miller piloted the daughter of Betting Line-Shes A Fan to her third consecutive win for trainer Jamie Sullivan and owner Frank Chick. Allegra Hanover, the 3-5 favourite, was three-quarters of a length back in second with Lyons Anitasangel third.
Sullivan initially tried Stevie Hanover in Siire Stakes but thought the Stallion Series would be more to her liking.
“We wanted to build her confidence up,” said Sullivan. “We’re doing it race by race, trying to keep her sound and see what happens. We staked her up to everything, including the Breeders Crown; it’s just touch and go.”
Pilar Hanover (1:51.4), Beyonsay Yankee (1:52.3) and Odds On Aces Full (1:53.2) took the other $27,397 splits. Tim Tetrick enjoyed a double in rein to the Jim King Jr. trainee Pilar Hanover and Beyonsay Yankee for Nifty Norman. Gingras drove Odds On Aces Full for the Tony Alagna stable.
The Meadows is dark on Saturday for a Corks & Kegs event that will occupy part of the racetrack. Live harness racing resumes on Wednesday, with first post at 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)