Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids champion Captain Albano returned to the scene of the triumph on Friday, Aug. 30 and had little trouble scoring in a $70,347 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Timeisonmyside and Solid Character took the other divisions in the Sires Stakes leg, known as the Tarport Effrat, for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
Following his Adios victory, Captain Albano won the final of the Max Hempt Memorial at Pocono Downs, so he was entering the Tarport Effrat sharp as could be. After idling outside early for Dave Palone, the son of Captaintreacherous-Angelou powered to the point and drew off late. He defeated Sweet Beach Life by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:49.4 over a sloppy surface, with Lous World third.
“I just wanted to let everything settle early,” said Palone. ”When the plugs came out, his butt dropped about six inches and he took off. He’s a fun horse and it’s nice to still get the opportunity to spin that kind.”
Captain Albano now has banked $1,146,532 for trainer Noel Daley and owners Patricia Stable, L A Express Stable, Sjoblom Racing and Michael Dolan.
Stakes honours went to Timeisonmyside, who led every step for Anthony MacDonald and scored in a career-best 1:49.3. A Class Yankee, an 80-1 bomb who couldn’t find racing room until the issue was decided, was an unlucky second, beaten a neck, while Lou Vuitton completed the ticket.
“I wanted to go enough that I didn’t let one of the horses that shouldn’t beat him, beat him,” said MacDonald. “He’s been racing pretty good and he’s been creeping closer to the top group of horses.”
Tim Twaddle conditions the son of Captain Crunch-Macharoundtheclock, who lifted his lifetime earnings over the $300,000 mark, for TheStable Timeisonmyside Group.
Solid Character won his division in a career-best 1:50 flat by a head over the favoured PASS debuting Vengeance Bluechip, with Armada Hanover third. Hunter Myers put the Sweet Lou-Riley Character gelding on the point after a quick opening panel and held on at the wire. Ron Burke trains the sophomore, who went over the $200,000 earnings mark, for owners Burke Racing Stable, Robert Jackson, Timothy Sullivan and Tom Wilson.
Early speed also was effective in Friday’s sub-feature, a leg of the Pennsylvania Stallion Series for three-year-old male pacers, as Dream Bird and Dublin Dasher each won a $27,027 division on the front end.
Parked the opening quarter in :27.2, Dream Bird faced a stern late challenge from 3-5 favourite Goliath Hanover. But winning driver Myers said he was confident the son of Sweet Lou-Osprey Blue Chip would prevail.
“I don’t think he was tired,” said Myers. “He was a little lazy, so I had to get after him a little bit. But I wanted to be aggressive. That’s where I was at.”
Dream Bird, a 1:52.1 winner, races for Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, David Wills and J&T Silva-Purnell & Libby.
Dublin Dasher held on by a head to win his division in 1:52 over Ante Up Hanover with Matt Kakakley in the sulky for trainer Hunter Oakes and owners Alan Johnston and H O Racing Inc.
Saturday’s program at The Meadows brings down the curtain on the current race meeting, meaning that carryovers to Wednesday’s program are not permitted. Therefore, there will be mandatory payouts on the final Pick 4, the Pick 5, the final Pentafecta and the final Superfecta. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)