On Thursday, Sept. 5, Hollywood Casino at The Meadows will present one of its most important, lucrative and entertaining cards of the year when four Pennsylvania championships for freshmen and more than $1.26 USD million in purses will be up for grabs.
The program features a $252,000 USD Pennsylvania Sires Stakes (PASS) championship and a $50,000 consolation in each of the four divisions. First post is 12:45 p.m.
Each championship offers accomplished youngsters and storylines aplenty. Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing:
Two-Year-Old Filly Pace (Race 5)
For Papi Grad and Rose, it’s been a tale of two seasons. A daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Betterthangraduate, Papi Grad (pictured above) captured her first five career starts and was looking for a sweep of the four PASS preliminary legs for trainer Steve Carter and owners Brent Hopper, Jay Mossbarger, TKO Racing Stable LLC and SCP Stables/Friedland Racing.
But Rose bloomed in that meeting two weeks ago when she got the jump on Papi Grad and collected her third straight win in a stakes record 1:50.2 for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Jack Piatt II and Larry Karr. Papi Grad will have a chance to flip the script; she and Brett Miller have drawn the rail while Rose and Yannick Gungras go from post six.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace (Race 9)
This trophy would seem to have Burke’s name etched on it, as he sends out a three-headed monster: Th Colby (post two, Gingras); Papis Rocket (post five, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Railroad Station (post eight, David Miller). But there are credible threats galore, including Prince Hal Hanover (post seven, Bob McClure) and Go Go Grasshopper, who’s won three straight for trainer/driver Joe Bongiorno and leaves from the rail. Stop the etching! This one’s a toss-up.
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot (Race 6)
Divine Thing (post one, Miller) and Princess Jackie (post two, Tim Tetrick) have won a combined seven races this year, and there’s not much to separate the daughters of Greenshoe. But don’t toss Country Victory (post seven, Scott Zeron), who’s finished first or second in all four career outings. Can you say “trip?”
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot (Race 8)
Father TJ (post one,Tyler Buter) roars into the final off two straight facile victories in PASS preliminaries and looms the heavy favourite for trainer Jeff Cullipher, who owns the son of Father Patrick-Dip Me Hanover with Pollack Racing LLC. If you’re looking for a more agreeable price, try Portobarosso AS NL (post three, Andy Miller), who’s hit the ticket in all five starts. Bonus points if you know what the alphabet salad at the end of his name means.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)