Marty Party had her own private party on the front end Monday at The Meadows, drawing off to victory in a track-record 1:52 and scoring her third straight Pennsylvania Sires Stakes triumph
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The $241,809 event for freshman pacing fillies, known as the Meadow Cheer, was contested over three divisions, with Moonlit Dragon and Mcsauna taking the other splits.
Marty Party, who entered the day tied for fourth in sires stake standings, wrapped up a spot in the $200,000 final by making a quarter-pole move for Dave Palone and jogging from there. Yagonnakissmeornot was second, 5-1/2 lengths back, with Darena Hanover third. The daughter of Yankee Cruiser Noble Marty has won her last three starts by a combined 11-1/2 lengths.
“She was just ridiculous good,” Palone said. “She was well within herself, ears working going through the wire. She’s getting smarter and smarter every time. I could have done anything I wanted with her.”
Her time knocked a tick from the track record for two-year-old filly pacers established earlier this year by Podges Lady and lowered Ginger And Fred’s stake record by a full second. Joe Holloway trains Marty Party and owns with Val D Or Farms, Four Js Stable and Dreamland Farms.
Sitting third down the backside, Moonlit Dragon shocked the leader, Sectionline Yankee, with an explosive move and a :26.4 final panel. She prevailed in 1:52.3 over Sectionline Yankee, while Magic Starlight rallied for show. The win assured a spot in the sires stake final for Moonlit Dragon, who was tied for second prior to the Meadow Cheer.
“She’s got a good lick there if you can keep her covered up,” said Mike Iffland, assistant to winning trainer Bill Webb. “She’s never been on the front — we don’t really like them there. We’d rather have them charge late.“
Robert Mondillo and Donald Robinson own the daughter of Dragon Again-Moonlit Bay, a $10,000 yearling acquisition who has finished in the money in all six career starts.
Winless in four previous outings and trailing by six lengths at the half, Mcsauna launched an impressive uncovered bid for Tim Tetrick that carried her to victory in 1:52.4, a length better than Robin Cruiser. Susans Desire was third.
Scott DiDomenico trains Mcsauna, a daughter of Mcardle-Steamy Place, for Tom D. Tetrick.
(The Meadows)