Two-year-old colt trotters were the main focus on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows, with two Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions featuring stars continuing to rise while three Stallion Series winners were seeking redemption.
Mr Big Spender (pictured above) extended his winning streak to four in the first $80,400 PASS division with a 1:55.4 mile for driver Mike Wilder. Hard used through a :57.1 opening half, the son of Captain Corey maintained a two-length lead to the wire.
“Once he was stretched getting to the lead, Mike just kept him to his task and just rolled him along,” said trainer Norm Parker.
Now with four wins in five lifetime starts for owners Bart and Todd Brice, Mr Big Spender lifted his seasonal earnings. The stakes victory boosts Mr Big Spender’s seasonal earnings over the $100,000 mark.
In the second division, Jeremy Indof let the early dust settle before moving the Noel Daley-trained Highball Hanover to the lead on their way to a 1:56.2 lifetime best victory.
“Last week he was looking at shadows so I raced him off a helmet,” Indof said after the win. “Noel added a shadowroll, he scored down great, so I gave him a chance to be a good horse, really glad he was.”
After missing by a nose in his last start, Highball Hanover broke his maiden in his PASS score. The son of Bar Hopping was purchased at Harrisburg for $97,222 by owners Sjoblom Racing & M Dolan, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Caviart Farms and P C Wellwood Enterprises.
All three $27,778 Stallion Series winners had two things in common, miscues In their last start and equipment adjustments for Saturday success.
“Full swedges and hopples,” is what William Dougherty Jr. added to Harlem Hanover following a miscue in his previous start. Leaving form post one for Dave Palone, the Bar Hopping gelding was able to mind his manners and hold off a late Bar Fly Bandit (Brian Zendt) for the 1:58 victory. Owned by Susan Daugherty and Perry Wilson, Harlem Hanover secured his second career win from seven lifetime starts for the former $37,500 Harrisburg yearling purchase.
Rico Tubbs and driver Dave Palone delivered in their Stallion Series split, winning in 1:58.2. “We had to go from the bell boots to toe weights due to a cut in his heel. I was still thinking going onto the track,” stated trainer Tim Twaddle. Owned by TheStable Rico Tubbs and Hutchinson Harness LLC of Ohio, the $14,865 Lexington purchase took advantage of a perfect cover trip to trot home in :29.2, holding off a late charging Bayside Cue and Brandon Givens for his second career victory.
Keeping with the Stallion Series them of the day, Churchill required a slight adjustment following a recent break. “He did not like the earplugs last week,” Jill Roland shared on her way back from the winner’s circle. “This week instead of plugs I put an ear hood on him.”. Leaving from post five, Dave Palone quickly put the Father Patrick colt in position to control and turn the race into a romp. Following the opening half of 1:00.1, Churchill trotted away to a three-length victory in 1:59.2, equalling his career best. Trained by Roland for Bernard O’Brien, the Stallion Series winner was a $28,378 Lexington yearling purchase.
Longshot ($13.60) delivered at a midrange price in the $25,000 Open Trot, downing favoured Emeralds Legacy (Indof) by just less than two lengths in 1:53.2.
For the day, leading driver Dave Palone was tops with five winners on the 11-race card. On the training side, 11 different trainers sent winners out Saturday.
Racing at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows resumes Wednesday, Aug. 6 with first post time at 12:45 p.m.
(with files from MSOA)