Reigning divisional champion L A Delight soared over the million-dollar mark in career earnings with her first victory outside of Canada in the $140,000 Nadia Lobell for three-year-old filly pacers on Saturday afternoon (August 27) at The Meadows.
Driven by Dave Palone for trainer Bob McIntosh, L A Delight defeated I Said Diamonds in a career-best clocking of 1:49.1, just missing the track record by one-fifth of a second.
Palone attempted to leave with L A Delight from post five, but insider I Said Diamonds (Jim Pantaleano) forged on through a :26.2 first quarter. L A Delight settled into the pocket position around the first turn and followed the leader through middle panels of :54.2 and 1:22. Meanwhile, Kiss Me Onthebeach (John Campbell) advanced from the back of the four-pack of fillies that were still in contention -- after Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) broke stride behind the gate -- and she moved up to second-place by the third quarter mark, but the race was between I Said Diamonds and L A Delight as they came off the final turn. L A Delight closed through the passing lane in a :26.4 final quarter to edge out I Said Diamonds by half a length. Yankee Moonshine (Yannick Gingras) finished third over Kiss Me Onthebeach.
“I think Jim did the right thing,” said Palone of Pantaleano's early racing strategy with I Said Diamonds. “When Call Me Queen Be ran, he probably thought it was a two-horse race. He wanted to make me work, and I was lucky enough to get behind him. It turned into a sprint.
“I thought Jim would have two handfuls left,” he said. “Anytime you have to head one into our passing lane when she’s not familiar with it, you’re concerned. I knew I had a handful of pace. It was just a question if I could get to him quick enough.”
L A Delight was the betting favourite at odds of 7-5 and paid $4.80 to win.
Less than a couple thousand dollars shy of the million-dollar mark entering the Nadia Lobell, the winner's share of the purse pushed L A Delight's career bankroll to $1,068,329.
After going 11-for-12 and earning over $700,000 in her award-winning freshman campaign, she has won six of her 10 races so far this year while adding another $363,994 to her bankroll.
“I’ve driven a lot of good fillies, won a couple Jugettes, but this filly ranks right up there,” said Palone. “She’s so handy she makes your job easy.”
The homebred daughter of Bettors Delight and West Of L A is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. Windsor, Ont., C S X Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. Leamington, Ont.
Schnittker Sweeps Sires Stakes
When trainer Ray Schnittker was en route to The Meadows for Saturday’s co-feature, a $186,672 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for two-year-old male pacers, known as the Tyler B, he contemplated the possibility of a sweep with his youngsters, Huntsville and Summer Side.
“I thought we had a shot,” Schnittker said. “We had the right driver on them.”
That driver, Tim Tetrick, transformed Schnittker’s daydream to reality when he piloted both colts to victory in their $93,336 divisions. Huntsville’s win was the more spectacular, as he triumphed in 1:50, erasing Yankee Bounty’s stakes record of 1:50.4 and the track record for freshman colt pacers of 1:50.3 held jointly by Im Some Graduate and Fear The Dragon.
A son of Somebeachsomewhere-Wild West Show, Huntsville was away third before quarter-poling to the top. He was unthreatened thereafter, downing Boogie Shuffle by one and three-quarter lengths. Fear The Dragon, who was seeking a sweep of PASS preliminary legs, had to settle for show in a vain effort to defend his track record.
Schnittker owns Huntsville with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and Steven Arnold.
Summer Side seized the early lead but, shuffled to third, was forced to come first over. He did so powerfully, prevailing in 1:51.4. Normandy Beach was second, a neck back, while Downbytheseaside earned show.
“He’s had two straight tough trips coming first over, and he got the job done this week,” Schnittker said of the son of Well Said-Beachy Lady, a $15,000 yearling acquisition for Schnittker and co-owner Howard Taylor. “I think he’s a real horse. He’s bred great — Shes A Great Lady is his second dam. If he stays sound, he could be anything.”
Both Schnittker colts cemented spots in the $250,000 PASS Championship. Asked to compare the two, Schnittker said: “Huntsville is a foot bigger, probably has hopples six inches longer. He’s a different type of horse than Summer Side.”
In the $18,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Hawks Red Chief made it two straight with a gritty victory in 1:49.4, matching his personal best. Early leader Unlocked was a game second, a length back, while the first-over Dapper Dude completed the ticket.
Palone drove for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Michelle Yanek. The five-year-old I Scoot Hanover-Fancy Trouble gelding extended his career earnings to $118,892.
(With files from The Meadows)