Hollywood Casino at the Meadows played host to a sunny Sophomore Saturday, Aug. 9 with three-year-old trotters starring on the day’s 13-race card. There were two divisions of the fourth Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) leg for colts and geldings, dubbed the Super Bowl, and two cuts of the fourth filly round, named the Stenographer.
Fashion Green bounced back from his first career loss in an unsuccessful Hambletonian elimination attempt as he won the fastest PASS division of the day, the $71,962 second split of the Super Bowl. Tim Tetrick quickly moved the gelding to the lead and on their way to Fashion Green’s second PASS win of the season, putting up splits of :28.1, :57, and 1:24.2 in a 1:52.2 victory. The Greenshoe-Fashion Athena gelding was 2-3/4 lengths the best over Hey Porter (Yannick Gingras), with Frank Leahy (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) third. Owned by Fashion Farms LLC of New Hope, Pa., Fashion Green is now three-for-four this year. Hall of Fame trainer Jim Campbell said it was a "very good experience today for all involved," adding that “(Fashion Green) is a total professional that enjoys his work.”
Trainer-driver Charlie Norris and The Fix Is In took advantage of a comfortable opening to “prep for next week's Beal” with a 1:54.4 score in the $71,414 second Super Bowl division. The International Moni-Dew It Justice gelding sat the pocket to the quarter in :29, took over before the half in :58.4, and went to three-quarters in 1:26.4 before trotting home to the 2-1/4-length win over Cheers Hanover (Wrenn). Bombay Tom (Mike Wilder) finished third. The Fix Is In has won four of 10 starts this season for owners Carrie Norris of Pittston, Pa. and Max Hempt of Carlisle, Pa.
“He was very good today,” Norris said following the win in the Super Bowl. “On to the Beal.”
The two divisions of the Stenographer showcased top-tier trotting fillies, with $70,797 up for grabs in each dash. In the first and fastest, Hall of Famer Dave Palone and Hangover parlayed gate speed into a pocket-sitting 1:53.3 victory. Hustled from post six by Palone, the Southwind Frank-Mezcal Morning filly cut a :27.3 first quarter, followed Highlandstarburst (Gingras) through :56.2 and 1:26 fractions, then went to the passing lane and wore down the leader to win by a half-length. Ms Prada (Wrenn) was third. Trained by Ake Svanstedt, the win was the second PASS victory for Hangover and owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Little E LLC, and Rivers Stable Inc., as well as a career best. She is two-for-six this year.
Country Victory atoned for a miscue in her last start as she and Dave Miller captured the second Stenographer split. She was out and moving to the quarter in :27.1, acquired front-end control before the half in :56.4, trotted to three-quarters in 1:25, and came home a 1-1/4-length winner in 1:54.1. Bizzy Brenda (Andy Miller) finished second, followed by Goodgirl Bi It (Mattias Melander). The front-end effort was the first victory of the year from nine starts for the daughter of International Moni-Kristins Victory, who is trained by trainer Melvin Schmucker for owner Yacht Club 140 LLC.
“(Country Victory was) a little jammed up early last week; this week we wanted to be the last to the lead and she was super again,” said Dave Miller.
Give Me A Yankee starred in the Stallion Series as he produced a stakes-record performance in the first of three $27,397 divisions for colts and geldings. Driven by Aaron Merriman, he led through :28, :57.1, and 1:24.4 fractions and drew away down the stretch to a 1:52.1 victory. Arrowhead Hanover (Anthony MacDonald) was 3-1/4 lengths adrift in second, followed by Lefties Righties (Brian Zendt). Trained by Mark Akins for A1 Racing, the win was a lifetime best for the winning son of Bar Hopping-Grace Am and his fourth tally in nine attempts this year.
“He was phenomenal,” Merriman said, adding that the “plugs were still in.”
Aperol Hanover added to his resume by way of a worst-to-first 1:54.2 effort in his Stallion Series victory. Sitting last through the early going, Brian Zendt had the Bar Hopping-Anonyme Hanover gelding right where he needed to be on the last turn, and Aperol Hanover fired home to take the second male division. Aperol Hanover is trained by Bill Zendt, who shares ownership with Gary Saul and Barbara McAllister.
After the win, Saul said “Brian gave him a great trip. The colt's a closer and he closed big time today.”
Wapiti Blue Chip, driven by Dave Palone, cleared just past the three-eighths and from there trotted off to a 1:54.4 victory in the third division for colts and geldings. The International Moni-Make It Blue Chip gelding is trained by Mahlon Martin for owners Ashley Burslem, Steve Mullen, and Gregory Garton.
Seal The Deal As and Tetrick kicked off the stakes action with a front-stepping win in the first $27,397 Stallion Series division for fillies. The victory gave the Anette Lorentzen trainee back-to-back Stallion Series wins, and the 1:54.3 clocking was the faster of the two filly splits. The International Moni-High Musclemass filly was bred and is owned by ACL Stuteri AB.
“She’s a notch below the top fillies,” Tetrick said of Seal The Deal As. “Dropping her to the Stallion Series allows me to race her up front, and she’s been super.”
Following the same theme as Seal The Deal As, Princess Jackie dropped down from Sire Stakes competition, went to the lead, and won the second distaff contest. Away third early, Wrenn put the Greenshoe-Frisky Magic filly on the point and let her trot on her own terms to a 1:55.3 winning effort. Owner-trainer D.R. Ackerman said after with a smile “It couldn’t have rained in a dryer spot.”
For the day, two Hall of Fame drivers shared top honours as Palone and Tetrick each had three wins, while 13 different trainers tallied victories.
Dave Palone’s nine wins on the week edged out Jeremy Indof’s eight. Burke Racing topped Altmeyer-Wilder Racing's three wins to two for the training honours.
Racing resumes at The Meadows next Wednesday with a post time of 12:45 p.m.
(With files from the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)