Brushed off at 18-1, Picasso Spur made his maiden win a memorable one Monday at The Meadows by scoring an upset victory in a Keystone Classic division
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The $103,402 stake for freshman colt and gelding trotters was contested over three divisions, with Haulin Laser and Kashs Cantab taking the other splits.
Not only was Picasso Spur in tough, but his regular trainer/driver, Dick Stillings, was racing Monday at the Delaware County Fair. Knowing he would be away, Stillings recruited Doug Snyder to drive Picasso Spur.
“I trained him for Dickie over the weekend,” Snyder reported. “He has a funny little skip and hop when he’s going slow, and Dickie didn’t want me to be upset with his gait. It was just a matter of getting to know him. He was gawking around when I moved him, but when I got on him a little bit, he got going.”
The pairing was an immediate hit, as Picasso Spur saved ground until the three-quarters, moved first over and scored in 1:59.3. Fawkes was second, with 3-5 favourite Luckycharm Hanover third. Roy Davis owns Picasso Spur, a gelded son of SJs Caviar-Exit Row Hanover.
“Dickie probably will be back in the sulky next race, but I’ll drive this one anytime,” Snyder said.
Haulin Laser’s resume showed only a maiden victory in two starts entering the Keystone Classic, but he, too, performed like a seasoned veteran, following cover to score in a stake-best 1:57.3. Buffalino Hanover was next best and early leader Mythical Hall was third.
Dan Charlino piloted the Broadway Hall-Lisas Laser gelding for trainer Jim Mulinix and owners DM Stables and Denny Miller.
Kashs Cantab, who had flashed both talent and gaiting problems in his first seven races, exhibited all the former and none of the latter Monday as he converted a pocket trip to victory for Ray Paver in 1:57.4. The ground-saving Opinion Hanover was second, while the 4-5 favourite, Big And Little completed the top three finishers.
Danny Collins trains Kashs Cantab, a son of Cantab Hall-Ocala Kash, for Wayne Zollars and Slaughter Racing Stable.
Dave Palone drove six winners — five for trainer Ron Burke — on the 15-race card.
(The Meadows)