Cufflink Hanover notched his third straight Pennsylvania Stallion Series win in spectacular fashion, when he blazed home in a stakes record 1:55.1 at The Meadows.
Wednesday’s $100,000 event for colt and gelding trotters was contested over five divisions, with Multitaskr Hanover, Petrossian AS, Asta La Pasta and Twin B Ammunition also taking splits. Andrew McCarthy enjoyed a stakes double behind Petrossian AS and Asta La Pasta.
Cufflink Hanover roared to the front from post six for driver and co-owner David Miller and never suffered an anxious moment, downing the pocket-sitting Nathaniel by one and three-quarter lengths. Air Glider earned show.
Miller paid $30,000 for Cufflink Hanover at the Harrisburg sale and later sold part of him to the Enzed Racing Stable of Nifty Norman, who trains the Andover Hall-CR Savoire Faire gelding.
“I liked his breeding — it was a good cross,” Miller said. “He had two brothers and sisters who raced, so we took a shot. I’m very happy with him. He surprised the hell out of me.”
The mile is the fastest this year by a freshman trotting gelding on a five-eighths-mile track and just a tick off Correcttamundo’s world record.
Multitaskr Hanover came from off the trot to set the previous stakes mark of 1:56.1 — it lasted about 20 minutes — but it still was a great maiden-breaker for the son of Explosive Matter-Mrs Ronerail, who was unsuccessful in five previous tries. Chuck Sylvester trains the youngster for Four Aces With A Kicker, Neal Goldman, Charles Stansley and David Reid.
“We wanted mainly to get him to finish up good,” said winning driver Dave Palone, “so we were just kind of rating our own mile. Fortunately, they were going fast.”
The first-over Moneycounts De Vie was second, two and a half lengths back, with Bombardier third.
Although it took him more than a quarter on the outside to grab the lead, Petrossian AS became a two-time Stallion Series winner when he triumphed in 1:57.3 for trainer Anette Lorentzon and owner/breeder ACL Stuteri. Can We Have Fun was one and a half lengths back in second, while HOV Lane Hall completed the ticket.
“He is a little special — you never know what you’ll have with him,” Lorentzon said of the SJs Caviar-Elegant Dame gelding. “Last winter, he was sometimes a dead runaway and you couldn’t hold him. Next second he can be lazy, so you have to chase him. But so far, so good. We might try him at Lexington.”
In the $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, Show Runner made it three straight when she roared to the front from post eight for Eric Goodell and bested Certified Ideal by hald a length in 1:52. Stucklikeglue held third. Mike Watson trains the five-year-old daughter of Little Steven-Peace Runner, who boosted her career bankroll to $267,850, for A Piece Of The Action LLC.
Tony Hall piloted three winners on the 15-race card.
Friday’s program at The Meadows features the Florida Pro, a $208,577 PA Sires Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First post is 12:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)