Last year, Migisi pulled off a 32-1 shocker in capturing her Pennsylvania Stallion Series final. Monday at The Meadows, it was déjà vu all over again, as the 27-1 Migisi took the $40,000 Stallion Series championship
for three-year-old filly trotters - her first win of the year - at a juicy 27-1.
The Meadows hosted all four $40,000 Stallion Series sophomore finals, with Mc Rusty (colt pacers), Walltocousins (colt trotters) and Nutmegs Yankee (filly pacers) also crowned champions.
Not only was Migisi winless on the year and leaving from Post 8, but she also failed to land among the Top 9 in Stallion Series points and made the field only through defections. But noting the racing surface rendered “good” by rain, trainer Don Swick made a key equipment change.
“She’s had sort of a bad year, just a lot of bad trips,” said Swick of Royal Wire Products’ $80,000 yearling purchase. “I pulled her front shoes off today, and she looked like a different horse. She looked better gaited and more relaxed. We may have stumbled on to something.”
In the championship, the daughter of Andover Hall-Gluteus Maximus enjoyed a pocket trip behind Mynah Hanover, then shot the Lightning Lane for Ray Paver to score in a career-best 1:58.1. Sephora De Vie was three-quarters of a length back in second while Mynah Hanover saved show.
Swick said he plans to race Migisi - sans front shoes - at the Red Mile.
In his customary Silky Sullivan fashion, Mc Rusty roared from 4-1/2 lengths back for Eric Ledford to down the game Hacienda by a head in 1:54. Scenic Art completed the ticket in the final for the three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
“He got a little too far back,” said Toni Rose, assistant to winning trainer Steve Elliott. “Eric said he couldn’t get his attention early because of the long post parade (due to a post-time scratch). But he had it when he needed it. He’s just a little guy, so we have to get what we can get with him.”
Martha Frank and Carter Racing Stable own the son of Mcardle-Barely Legal, who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings.
Dismissed at 12-1 despite his status as top seed, Walltocousins rewarded the faithful by coming third-over for Greg Grismore and prevailing in a lifetime mark of 1:56.4 in the final for the three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Fountainbleau Volo rallied for place, with Bloomington third.
“It worked out perfect,” Grismore said. “The front end just caved down the backside, and I got towed up to the front. He responded when I gave him his head.”
Roy Mac Davis trains Walltocousins, a Cantab Hall-Ob La Da gelding, for Brent Davis.
Following a second-quarter breather, Nutmegs Yankee and Dan Charlino cooked the field with a 27.3 third panel. They scored in 1:54.2 in the final for the three-year-old trotting fillies. It was 2-1/4 lengths back to runner-up Hot List, with Nutmegs Cider, the winner’s stablemate, third. Nutmegs Yankee won more than $89,000 at two but only recently has regained something of her freshman form.
“I didn’t think she was a Grand Circuit type, but I thought she’d be a whole lot better than she has been,” said Brian Brown, who trains the daughter of Real Desire-Salty Yankee for Irving Bork. “She’s been awful disappointing until the last month. She’s full of quirks. She doesn’t like to turn. If you go too far up the track with her, she will not turn. If we don’t have the outrider, we’re in trouble. At the barn, you can only catch her twice a day.”
Nutmegs Yankee is scheduled to return to The Meadows for next week’s Keystone Classic.
On Tuesday, The Meadows will offer all four Stallion Series championships for two-year-olds.
(The Meadows)