Fresh off his amazing 1:49.2 world record in the Governors' Cup, One More Laugh headlines The Meadows' Tuesday card of harness racing when a total of $1 million in Pennsylvania Sires Stake purses will be on the line
in four PASS championships for two-year-olds as well as a consolation for each division. The card is one of the richest ever offered by the track.
Each championship carries a purse of $200,000, with the consolations going for $50,000 apiece. Horses earned their way into the championships by their performance in four preliminary legs.
The PASS championships for three-year-olds, contested Sept. 12 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, were marked by upsets. The fields for Tuesday’s championships are so competitive that more surprises are almost assured.
Ray Schnittker’s One More Laugh swept his divisions in the preliminary legs and figures as the likely favourite in the two-year-old pacing colt division. But he’ll be challenged by Sand Savage, who had a streak of his own — four straight PASS place finishes off conservative drives by Brett Miller. Miller cut the Allamerican Native-Sheer Hose colt loose in a Sept. 3 Keystone Classic victory at The Meadows and discovered a new animal on the front end.
“I really liked him there,” Miller said. “He acted like he liked it, too.”
Peter Pan Stable’s homebred Pang Shui was en route to a preliminaries sweep as well when, after he was well clear in the stretch in the Aug. 19 leg at The Meadows, he slipped a hopple. Only the quick work of driver Tim Tetrick kept him upright. He’ll be formidable in the championship.
Pay attention also to Burke Racing Stable’s Fishers Character who, after a tepid beginning in the series, came on for a win and a second in the final two legs. Should the leaders tire, he’ll be there to pick up the pieces.
Jimmy Takter’s Hard Livin was livin easy in the preliminaries for freshman trotting colts, sweeping his divisions. But Freedom Ridge, who won three PASS divisions for trainer and co-owner Harold Brocklehurst, looked sharp in a prep race against good older trotters, making up considerable ground late.
Upandover Hanover won his first two splits for trainer Scott Cox and will be looking to regain that form. Federalreservenote, a son of Tom Ridge-Starlet Lane trained by Takter, is a front-end threat but has raced greenly when things don’t go his way.
Pacing filly Dancinwiththestarz captured three preliminary divisions for trainer John Stark, Jr. but didn’t participate in the fourth, opening the door for Bordeaux Nourrir to enter the championship as the points leader.
“She’s a nice filly, but she has to learn to relax a bit,” said Kevin McDermott, who trains Bordeaux Nourrir for Fran Azur and George Leon Stables. “If she doesn’t relax, it will hurt her when she gets in with the big girls.”
Among those big girls is Sammys Magic Girl, a three-time winner in the preliminaries for trainer and co-owner Bill Popfinger. The X factor in this championship is Anadarko Hanover, a The Panderosa-Artaffection youngster whom Steve Elliott trains for Black Horse Racing. She took a single preliminary division and shimmied, shook and nearly fell in several others.
“She has so much more talent than she’ll give you,” said Dave Palone, her regular pilot at The Meadows. “But believe me, she can go.”
Anadarko was mannerly in an overnight prep at Harrah’s Chester. If she’s matured, watch out.
How tough is the field of trotting fillies? Up Front Juansteen set a Meadows track record of 1:56.1 in a Keystone Classic event, only to see it toppled the following week by Fashion Feline and Action-Broadway, who each won her final PASS prelim in 1:56.
All three will be in the championship, as will Barham Hanover, whom Dan Altmeyer calls “by far the best trotting filly I’ve ever trained,” and Bone A Fide, a three-time winner in the prelims. Says Yannick Gingras, who’ll drive Bone A Fide:
“There are four horses who stand out. Whoever gets the trip will get the win.”
On Monday, Sept. 28, The Meadows will host four championship events for 2-year-olds, as well as a consolation race for each division, in the Pennsylvania Stallion Series. A total of $240,000 in purses will be awarded, with each championship offering $40,000 and each consolation $20,000.
First post each evening is 6:20.
(The Meadows)