Rodeo Drive Deo and Good As You laid down equal clockings as they won the divisions of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) fourth leg for three-year-old pacing fillies, named the Romola Hanover, at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Friday, Aug. 29.
Rodeo Drive Deo, evading superstar Miki And Minnie for the first time since June, captured the $77,388 first division. After early speed from Who Are You (Mike Whelan) and Time Of The Season (Aaron Merriman) to the quarter in :27, Ronnie Wrenn Jr. brushed Rodeo Drive Deo to the lead from third. They stayed on the gas through :54.4 and 1:22 middle splits, and by the top of the stretch it was a two-horse battle with pocket-sitter Time Of The Season the only opponent in range. But the Ron Burke-trained Rodeo Drive Deo resisted her challenger in a :27.3 final quarter win by a half-length in a lifetime-best 1:50. Fancy Like Louuuuu (Chris Lems) was third.
Rodeo Drive Deo now was four wins this season in 12 attempts for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Beasty LLC, and J&T Silva- Purnel and Libby. The daughter of Captaintreacherous-Miss L A is now eight-for-23 lifetime and has earned $879,353. Her win price was $3.40.
The $76,832 second PASS division was a compact field of five, but it provided plenty of action. As Always Ana Hanover (Wrenn) sprinted to the lead from post five, Asphalt (Jack Pelling) applied quick pressure and took control at the first station in :26.1. He went to the half in :54.3, and Merriman had Good As You in the perfect spot to take advantage of the early speed. After using the cover from the first-over Westwinds (Dave Palone) through three-quarters in 1:22.2 and around the turn, Good As You shifted out and sprinted home in :27.2 for a career-best 1:50 victory. She won by two lengths over Always Ana Hanover, with Westwinds third.
Good As You, trained by Trent Stohler, is now six-for-10 this season. The Papi Rob Hanover-Ubettorbeturlife filly, owned by Trent Stohler Stable Inc. and Ben Graber, has won seven times and earned $140,952 in 15 career outings. She paid $20.20 to win.
There was also a trio of $27,778 Pennsylvania Stallion Series divisions on the card for sophomore distaff pacers.
Merriman and Sammy Jo Hanover ($3) pushed to the lead past the opening quarter, then maintained control all the way to the finish to capture the first split in 1:51.2 for trainer Scott Di Domenico. The daughter of Stay Hungry-Sammys Magic Girl is owned by Oompa's Farm Inc. and Joseph Barbera.
Merriman was a front-end winner again in the second division, this time with Strange Summer ($3.40). The Tall Dark Stranger-Summer N Sand filly went wire-to-wire to win in a new mark of 1:52.2 for trainer Brian Brown and owners Douglas Overhiser and Mark Winship.
Ballast took the final division in 1:51.2 with a game front-stepping performance with Mike Wilder in the sulky. Travis Alexander trains the Tall Dark Stranger-Catamaran Fashion filly for EVM Racing LLC.
Racing resumes at The Meadows on Saturday with a first post time of 12:45 p.m. North America Cup champion Louprint makes his return in the second of two PASS divisions. The 13-race afternoon card will also feature three Stallion Series events for three-year-old male pacers.
(With files from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association; photo of Good As You winning on Aug. 29)