Blue Moon Artist extended its domination of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for freshman pacing fillies, as it won its third straight in the series Tuesday, August 25 at the
Meadows in 1:54.2.
The event was contested over six divisions, with Six Pistol, Thesantafe Express, Lady In Red, The MGM Pan and Western Royalty capturing the other splits. Brett Miller drove four of the six winners (Blue Moon Artist, Lady In Red, The MGM Pan, Western Royalty), while Mark Harder enjoyed a training double (Six Pistol, Lady In Red) in the stakes event.
Blue Moon Artist rushed to the lead for Miller and drew off to score by three lengths over Free Fi Girl, lowering its lifetime mark a one-fifth of a second in the process. The daughter of Real Artist--Abreachoftrust has recorded convincing Stallion Series victories at all three state host tracks, causing trainer Bill Kreutzer to wonder if his $18,000 yearling purchase wouldn’t have been better slotted in the richer, but tougher, Pennsylvania Sires Stakes.
“She has the ability to leave the gate and the desire at the end of the mile not to let anybody pass,” said Kreutzer, who owns Blue Moon Artist with Denton Barrett. “I contemplated the PASS for her. Now I wish I would have put her in there. We have the PASS here tomorrow, and there are only three divisions. But she was a late foal, and I’m trying to be as easy as I can on her this year. I hope I’m doing the right thing, saving her for next year.”
A three-race maiden entering the stake, Six Pistol showed both speed and greenness in its win.
“I relaxed her around the first turn, let her settle, then moved her,” said winning driver Dave Palone. “She has wicked ability, but she does have some steering issues. Just inexperience. She was well within herself. I was trying to keep her straight and focused on her business.”
Six Pistol was straight and swift enough to score in 1:54.4, four and a quarter-length victory. Bulletproof Enterprises owns the daughter of I Am A Fool--DHB Six.
Thesantafe Express remained undefeated in three career races as she sustained an uncovered bid for pilot Eric Ledford and went on to down NF Salsa by two and a quarter lengths in 1:55.
Trainer Leo Iordan said his $22,000 yearling acquisition has shown promise all along.
“You really don’t know if they’ll make the races or, if they do make it, if they’re gifted enough,” Iordan said. “We don’t have that many babies, but with those we do have, we never rush or push them. They tell us basically where they belong. It’s been a joy to see her develop.”
The partnership of De Rosa, Iordan, Iovaldi and Woythaler owns Thesantafe Express, a daughter of Western Hanover--Sundowner Lilly.
(With files from the Meadows)