We Will See, which displayed dubious work ethic early in its early races, showed an improved attitude and plenty of speed Thursday, September 3 at the Meadows, as it captured a division of a $135,800 Keystone Classic in 1:52.3, equaling the fastest mark this year by a freshman pacing colt over a five-eighths-mile track.
The stakes event was contested over four divisions, with Morgan Shark, Sand Savage and Four Starz Trace taking the other splits. Dave Palone and Joe Seekman enjoyed stakes driving and training doubles, respectively, with Morgan Shark and Four Starz Trace.
We Will See had managed only a show finish in its first four career outings, and trainer Sam DePinto had little trouble identifying the problem.
“He’s the laziest horse I’ve ever trained,” DePinto said. “All you can do is be patient and wait for him to come around, and he’s coming. The more he races, the better he’s getting. Today was by far his best race. He had more left.”
The son of Western Hanover--Aberdakara scored a win and a second in its two most recent starts. On Thursday, it put it all together for Eric Ledford, swooping the field with a quick backside brush and prevailing by five and a half lengths over Jonesie Hanover. Sandragon Mindale was third.
Shannon DePinto and Earl Smith own We Will See, a $30,000 yearling acquisition which will be pointed for the Bluegrass at the Red Mile.
Morgan Shark won for the fourth time in five career starts with an effortless front-end blitz in 1:52.3. Native Justice was more than eight lengths back in second, with Four Starz Alex third.
“We plan on racing him very lightly this year,” said Seekman who trains the gelded son of Four Starzzz Shark--Four Starzzzz Pass for Sawgrass Farms. “He has a lot of go. He was making breaks early, so we cut him. It seems like it’s really straightened him out. He’s a smaller colt, so we want to give him time to grow.”
Sand Savage had recorded four consecutive second-place finishes off pocket trips, a bridesmaid streak that ended when Brett Miller sent it decisively to the lead from the gate. It scored in 1:53.1, a head better than Fishers Character, while McGreat finished third.
“He’s been in with some of the best PA colts and been racing well, but he just hasn’t been able to beat the 1:52 pacers,” Miller said. ”Tonight I was able to put him on the front, and I really liked him there. He acted like he liked it, too.”
Jim Arledge, Jr. trains Sand Savage, a son of Allamerican Native-Sheer Hose, for Bill Sanders.
(The Meadows)