Nearly $1.3 million in purses — and four Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championships — will be on the line Saturday at the Meadows when the track hosts all four $253,000 PASS finals for three-year-olds as well as $50,000 consolations in each division.
The championships will feature some of the brightest stars in the sophomore ranks, including a pair of Dan Patch Award winners — Captain Crunch and Warrawee Ubeaut — and the once-defeated Millies Possession, who swept all four PASS preliminary legs.
First post for the 15-race card is at 1:05 p.m.
Here’s a look inside the championships:
$253,000 Championship — Three-Year-Old Filly Trotters (Race 6)
Unraced at two, Millies Possesion has nine wins from 10 starts this year, the only blemish — if you can call it that — a second-place finish to When Dovescry in the Hambletonian Oaks. The Fashion Farms homebred daughter of Possess The Will-Fashion Athena has banked $349,017.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about her is an unhurried style so different than that of most young trotters. In fact, in her last six outings, she hasn’t been on the lead before the half. Will that be her approach Saturday?
“It all depends on how the race shapes up,” said her trainer, Jim Campbell. “If they’re really winging it, we won’t have to be too worried about being on the front end. She’s pretty versatile. We haven’t done anything different with her this week; she’s had a good week so far.”
Millies Possession will start from Post 7 for driver Dexter Dunn.
$253,000 Championship — Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters (Race 8)
Easily the most wide-open final; only two of the nine combatants enter the championship off of wins. One of those is Goes Down Smooth, who has captured three of his last four starts, all stakes. But Matt Kakaley will have to work out a trip from Post 9 for the Muscle Hill-Peach Martini gelding, who’s conditioned by Ron Burke for Burke Racing Stable, William Switala, James Martin and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
$253,000 Championship — Three-Year-Old Filly Pacers (Race 9)
This has been the glam PASS division with outstanding performers such as Warrawee Ubeaut, Stonebridge Soul and Treacherous Reign trading blows all season. Yet, the championship will be shaped in part by a key defection. Tall Drink Hanover had won four straight stakes, highlighted by her Shady Daisy triumph in 1:48, which is the fastest this year by a sophomore filly. But with two from his stable, Treacherous Reign and Odds On St Lucie, in the championship, trainer Tony Alagna sent Tall Drink Hanover elsewhere.
“We kept her eligible to the Simcoe, which conflicts with the championship,” Alagna said. “Since we had two other fillies make the final, we chose the Simcoe for her to try to optimize our fillies to the best of their ability. Treacherous Reign came out of her last race great. We’ve been treating Odds On St Lucie for some throat irritation.”
The draw favours Treacherous Reign, as the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Scandalous Hanover will start from Post 3 for Dunn and owners Alagna Racing, Big Als Stables, Let It Ride Stables and Dana Parham. Warrawee Ubeaut and Stonebridge Soul drew Post 8 and 9, respectively.
$253,000 Championship — Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers (Race 10)
Captain Crunch returned from a freshening of nearly a month with a strong show finish in the Simcoe, clocked in 1:49.4, and could be even sharper in the championship.
“The break was something we planned because there weren’t any races on bigger tracks for him after the Cane Pace,” said Nancy Johansson, who trains the millionaire son of Captain Treacherous-Sweet Paprika for 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, Rojan Stables and Caviart Farms. “He was a little short (in the Simcoe) and should be tighter Saturday. He needed that start.”
A potential factor: Captain Crunch will be making his first career start at the Meadows while his chief rival, Southwind Ozzie, has won all four of his races at the five-eighths-mile oval, including a spectacular 1:48 victory in the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids.
“”He’s a good-gaited colt, so that shouldn’t be a problem,” Johansson said. “I’m not really concerned about him getting over the track.”
Captain Crunch will start from Post 7 with Scott Zeron aboard. Southwind Ozzi and Brian Sears will start from Post 5.
The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) will present blankets to the champions as well as gift bags to their grooms. Visit the MSOA table in the racebook to register for fan activities.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)