Parklane Eagle squeezed off the cones, roared through the stretch and scored in 1:53, fastest division in Wednesday’s $100,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake at The Meadows.
The event for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers was conducted over five splits, with UF Larry Alltheway, R N Nate, Lyons Geoff Jnr and Letsmakeawish taking the other divisions. Dave Palone enjoyed a stake triple behind Lyons Geoff Jnr, Letsmakeawish — both for trainer Ron Burke — and UF Larry Alltheway.
Parklane Eagle got away first for Tony Hall but gladly accepted cover from PV Dragon. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-River Hanover was stronger in the lane, defeating his rival by a length, with Bee Happy Dan third.
Hall had never before driven Parklane Eagle but got some advice from Peter Foley, who conditions the colt for Shirley LeVin.
“He said to get him in the race if I could, so that’s what I tried to do,” Hall said. “Once I showed him racetrack, he really took off.”
Aaron Merriman, who piloted R N Nate to victory, also got some advice — in the form of voicemails from Roger Hammer, the youngster’s owner/breeder/trainer.
“He told me, in effect, this is a stake race, so race him,” Merriman said. “I was a little concerned that we wouldn’t get room.”
Merriman had to wait for the Lightning Lane to implement Hammer’s counsel, but he steered the Nuclear Breeze-R N Artist gelding to a one and three-quarter length victory over the rallying Wild Again in 1:54.1. Cabo Sunshine earned show.
UF Larry Alltheway was a leisurely fifth before Palone edged him off the pylons to follow cover. Once he shed that cover, he drew off to triumph in 1:54, six lengths better than Final Gesture. Mandalay Spur completed the ticket.
“He’s a big, green, snaky horse,” said Kelly O’Donnell, who trains the Dragon Again-Varbo gelding for Up Front Racing. “Last week in the Arden Downs, once he cleared, he didn’t know where he was going. He ran in, he ran out and got beat. So we thought we’d teach him something today.”
Merriman drove five winners and Palone three on the 16-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Friday with a powerhouse card that includes a $231,260 PA Sires Stake for sophomore colt and gelding pacers, the $120,000 Currier & Ives for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters and the Midwest Series Final of the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Trot. Il Sogno Dream heads the Currier & Ives field on the strength of his fourth-place Hambletonian finish. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)