Oakville, Ontario native Scott Zeron came up big on Sunday (September 3) at Harrah’s Philadelphia. The reinsman steered three-year-old gelding Boogie Shuffle to a track record victory during the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes finals. The contest was one of four $252,000 divisions that went postward during the card.
The complexion of the three-year-old colt and gelding pace changed quite a bit earlier in the afternoon, as it had been announced that prohibitive favourite – and divisional leader – Fear The Dragon had been scratched ‘sick.’
Zeron and Boogie Shuffle ($22.00) started from Post 1 in the quarter-million-dollar split, which had been carded as Race 12, the last of the four finals.
Boogie Shuffle left well off the gate, but opted to allow Filibuster Hanover (driven by Matt Kakaley) to take control of the point in the vicinity of the quarter-mile pole, which was reached in 27 seconds.
The forwardly-placed Zeron waited for 1-5 favourite Huntsville (Tim Tetrick) to come calling from fourth. Tetrick pulled his mount off the pylons in the second quarter before Filibuster Hanover flashed the half in :54.4.
Zeron and Boogie Shuffle were still in a prime spot as Filibuster Hanover paced the third quarter. Huntsville appeared to be off his game in the frame, as Tetrick could only get him up to third before the pacesetter clicked off three quarters in 1:21. Tetrick would later tuck Huntsville in behind Boogie Shuffle for a bit of a draft.
Boogie Shuffle proved brave off of his dream trip. Zeron tipped his mount for a winning bid, and Boogie Shuffle showed a slick move of his own.
Boogie Shuffle, who is by Well Said, was in fine form at the wire, which he froze in 1:48.2. The time was a new track record for three-year-old gelded pacers. The time also equalled the stakes record for pacing geldings.
Filibuster Hanover was game to the wire and finished second. Huntsville finished third.
Show wagering had been taken off the board for the dash. After having paid $22.00 to win, Boogie Shuffle also paid $21.60 to place.
The mark-lowering Sunday effort was the biggest mile of Boogie Shuffle’s career. The bay is a homebred of Fox Hollow Farm (of Shavertown, PA).
Post 1 starter Dover Dan ($15.60) kicked off the PASS finals with a 1:53.3 victory in the $252,000 division for the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings (Race 9).
The John Butenschoen-trained and Tim Tetrick-driven son of Andover Hall raced from off the tempo through splits of :27.2, :56 and 1:24.2, but loomed large as the field headed for home. Tetrick kicked the bay colt off his second-over cover as the field made its way into the homestretch for the final time. Dover Dan trotted home strongly and was a convincing winner in 1:53.3.
The Chris Lems-driven Muscles Jared, who had left early and cut the opening quarter before being overtaken, came on for second. Giveitgasandgo, driven by Corey Callahan, held on for third after having clicked off the half and three-quarters poles.
Dover Dan is owned by William C. Wiswell (Elkhorn, WI), Jean Goehlen (Aurora, IL) and Eugene Schick (Elgin, IL).
Caviart Ally ($17.40) was a dominant 7-1 upsetter in the $252,000 final for the three-year-old pacing fillies (Race 10), as the Noel Daley trainee paced a lifetime mark 1:50.2 mile for driver Andrew McCarthy.
McCarthy and the Bettors Delight bay started from Post 7 and were first to every call (:26.4, :55.2, 1:22). She kept on truckin’ right through the lane and stopped the clock in 1:50.2, which was just one-fifth of a second off of the track record for the division.
Idyllic Beach (driven by Yannick Gingras) finished second after a pocket ride. The heavy 1-5 favourite, Agent Q, finished third after having having raced third throughout the mile. She made a first-up move in the third quarter, but couldn’t catch Caviart Ally.
Caviart Ally is owned by Caviart Farms of Vienna, VA.
The Jimmy Takter-trained and Tim Tetrick-driven Thats All Moni ($11.60) captured the $252,000 final for three-year-old trotting fillies (Race 11) in 1:53.3, which is just one-fifth of a second off of the track mark for the division.
The Cantab Hall filly had raced off the tempo through the opening fractions (:26.3, :55.3). Tetrick moved her overland in the third quarter. The duo caught cover and was pulled into the dash second over past the 1:24.2 three quarters. Tetrick stick-handled his charge through the lane and got up for a solid win.
Cool Cates (Andrew McCarthy) raced well for second. Fine Tuned Lady (Corey Callahan) was also right there in the stretch, but had to settle for third.
Thats All Moni is owned by Brittany Farms LLC (Versailles, KY), Marvin Katz (Toronto, ON) and Al Libfeld (Pickering, ON).