T C I overcame some rookie greenness and went on to win his third straight in Friday’s Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Greenspan and Security Protected captured the other divisions in the event, known as the Florida Pro, for freshman colt and gelding trotters. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. enjoyed a stakes double with T C I and Security Protected. Each division was worth just over $52,000.
Wrenn had the opportunity for an early tuck with T C I, but the youngster balked and went wide, forcing Wrenn to press on to the point with him. Once there, the son of Cantab Hall-Nicoles Promise was fast and professional, holding off challengers inside and outside to score in a stakes-fastest 1:55.1. Bird And Grenade shot the Lightning Lane for second, three-quarters of a length back, with the first-over Memorynimagination third.
“I think he could see his [Ron Burke’s] barn area in the first turn and he was pulling up,” said Wrenn. “He was a little green, kind of took it wide. But once he got through that turn, he was fine.”
Burke trains T C I for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Greenspan dug himself a 2-1/2-length hole heading for home, but his late kick carried him past the front-ending Breezy Hall by a half-length in 1:56 for Dave Palone. Poisonpoke completed the ticket.
“He’s just learning,” said Jim Campbell, who conditions the homebred Greenshoe-Firm To Stay gelding for Runthetable Stables. “He’s not ready to be blasting them out of there on the front end, but he’ll get to that point somewhere down the road. He has a good attitude and he’s got speed to him. He does throw in steps here and there, but he doesn’t want to make a break.“
Security Protected (Father Patrick-Thatsnotmyname) won his second straight stakes event in 1:56.1 for trainer Marcus Melander and owners Howard Taylor, Brad Grant and Order By Stable.
The $20,000 splits in Friday’s sub-feature Pennsylvania Stallion Series for two-year-old trotting colts went to Honor Guard, Executive Game, This Oneisonme and Activation, with Dave Palone fashioning a stakes triple aboard Honor Guard, Executive Game and This Oneisonme.
Honor Guard’s win, though, was not textbook, as Palone found himself exactly where he didn’t want to be with the Father Patrick-Honor Thy Daughter gelding — on the point too soon.
“He just got to the front and sat down. He won’t go on the lead yet,” said Palone. “I thought there would be a couple in there to follow; they both ran leaving. I give him credit for fighting back. Once a horse got past him, he picked it back up again. It wasn’t pretty, but it won’t say that on the cheque.”
He didn’t follow the script, but Honor Guard prevailed in 1:59.4, with Riveria Beach a neck back in second. Nail Driver finished third. Scott Cox trains Honor Guard for Jason Ash.
Wrenn collected five wins and Palone four on the 12-race card.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes on Wednesday, with first post at 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)