Donttellmeagain Completes Series Sweep

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The Meadows Racetrack and Casino hosted eight Pennsylvania Stallion Series championships Saturday, September 2, each carrying a $40,000 purse.

Like Clockwork and Sidewalk Dancer extended their winning streaks to five, four stake records fell, and Donttellmeagain won his division's championship following eight-straight wins over the last two years in the series.

Donttellmeagain figured to be rough on his three-year-old colt and gelding foes in the stallion series, but Jim King, who trains the Dragon Again-Donttellmewhattodo gelding for Paton Racing Stables, wasn’t worried about this year alone.

“We still have the Liberty Bell, the Keystone Classic and the Simpson,” King said. “We’ll probably do this. He has a chip in an ankle, so we’ll take that out when the season’s done. We’re planning on bringing him back. The long-term goal was to get him through this season as good as possible and see what kind of horse he can make. That’s why we didn’t put him in with the sires stake horses.”

In the championship, Donttellmeagain easily overtook Jo Pa’s Somebeach with a first-over move for Tim Tetrick and downed him by three lengths in 1:50.3, with Mike’s Z Tam third. The time knocked a tick from the previous stake mark set by Stevensville in 2014. With the win, Donttellmeagain surpassed $200,000 in career earnings.

Like Clockwork won all four races since his July 8 debut, continuing his win streak and defeating Iluvtomakemoney by a neck in 1:54. Beach Watch earned show.

“Mike [Wilder] said he didn’t see that other horse at all,” indicated Tim Twaddle, who conditions the homebred Ponder-Macharoundtheclock gelding for Birnam Wood Farms. “Once he saw that other horse, he took back off. I’ll have to monkey with his bridle a little bit. He has the Keystone Classic, the Simpson and the Liberty Bell. He’s eligible for the Breeders Crown, but we’ll take it one week at a time.”

Hockey Hanover was parked at the quarter and later rallied to win the Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot Final in a stakes-record mile of 1:55.4 to shatter the previous record of 1:57.2 set by Boy Town in 2011. Mississippi Storm was a half-length back in second, with I Know My Rights third.

“With the 7 post, I thought we had to go,” said trainer-driver Wilbur Yoder. “We were lucky to get a spot. I moved him after that, and he did the rest. He felt comfortable the whole way. He’s tough.”

Yoder said Hockey Hanover next will try for more points on the PA Fairs Circuit in pursuit stallion series-fair finals double. McMullen Stable campaigns the Explosive Matter-Hotentrot gelding, a $10,000 yearling acquisition who has won nine of 11 starts and never finished worse than second.

Thisguyisonfire and David Miller circled the field, with help from live cover, and won the Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding final in 1:56.1, a half-length better than Soho Hanover, with Media Buzz third.

“Dave said he had to watch him a little bit at the gate,” said Jim Campbell, who trains the son of Yankee Glide-Adelaide Hall for Fashion Farms. “Once he got going, he got set. Thankfully, he was good enough to overcome everything.”

Sidewalk Dancer jogged on the front for driver Tim Tetrick, taking the Two-Year-Old Filly Pace in 1:53.3, erasing Half Past Seven’s stake record of 1:54.1. She Said So shot up the "Lightning Lane" for second, beaten two lengths, while Some Renditions completed the ticket.

“She’s learning to be a racehorse, and she’s got plenty left,” Tetrick said. “I think she’ll be able to carry her speed a long way, and I think she’ll be good the late part of this season.”

Chris Oakes trains the daughter of A Rocknroll Dance-Road Sign for Northfork Racing, Omar Beiler and Dennis Coons.

David Miller and Dressed To Impress outkicked the 2-5 favourite Itsgoodtobequeen to upset the Three-Year-Old Filly Trot in 1:55.1, with Massive Risk third. The time lowered the previous stake record by Broadway Socks of 1:55.4. Tim Lancaster trains Dressed To Impress for Andrea Lea Racing Stables and Lakefield Gore.

“The trips have always been working out,” Miller said. “The favorite covered her up, and I was thinking second. But when I moved her over at the top of the lane, she trotted right on.”

Freakonomics, a daughter by Western Terror out of Mind Boggling, grabbed the lead at the quarter for driver Tim Tetrick and handily bested Beach Club by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:52 to win the Three-Year-Old Filly Pace. Perplexed finished third.

“I think she’ll be really good in stakes on a half-mile track,” Tetrick said. “She’s handy, she’s quick, and she likes to win races.”

Ross Croghan trains Freakonomics, who extended her lifetime bankroll to $140,298, for Let It Ride Stables and Dana Parham.

Bone A Fide Babe saved ground for three-quarters before attacking the leader, Perfect Image, from third to take the Two-Year-Old Filly Trot. The daughter of Cantab Hall-Bone A Fide won in 1:58.2, holding off the rallying Explosive G by a head. Perfect Image saved third.

“She was on the right line so bad in her last start that I didn’t dare keep her on the outside and risk her running,” said winning driver Dan Rawlings. “She’s still not quite 100 percent, but she was better.”

Steve Bush conditions Bone A Fide Babe and owns with Alvira Fassett and Dennis Fassett.

After a brief break for Labor Day, live racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday, first post 1:05 PM.

(With files from The Meadows)

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