Glassine Hanover opened a sizable lead, then held on late to score in 1:52.3, the fastest division in Saturday’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows.
Pittstop Danika and Caviart Ally took the other splits in the event for three-year-old filly pacers known as the Adios Betty.
Glassine Hanover last year won a pair of PASS legs at The Meadows, so she clearly thrives here. When she opened up a two-length lead for Tyler Smith at the three-quarters, it appeared she might jog off. But when long shot Black Jack Pat charged late, the daughter of Dragon Again-Gifted Yankee was all out to down her by a nose. Gallic Sea finished third.
Glassine Hanover winning at The Meadows
“She was waiting on them a little bit,” said Smith, pinch-hitting for regular driver Trace Tetrick, who was banged up but not seriously injured in a race mishap Friday at Hoosier Park. “I kind of shut her down a little bit going into the last turn. Once she saw the other horse, she fought her off.”
Trent Stohler trains Glassine Hanover, who soared over $200,000 in career earnings, for Trent Stohler Stable, Benjamin Graber, Tim Graber and Dolne Farm Services.
Dismissed at 20-1 and shuffled to last at the three-quarters, Pittstop Danika looked hopelessly beaten. But when Mike Wilder found a seam and then shifted her outside, Pittstop Danika roared through the stretch and pulled off the upset in 1:52.4, a lifetime mark. Dr Js Kiss was a half-length back in second, with Gigi From Fiji third.
“She raced vicious last week off the pace,” Wilder said, “so I wanted to wait as long as I could and see if she could have a good kick. That was the game plan going in -- maybe not get shuffled to last. When I got her out, she just exploded.”
Ron Burke, who trains the daughter of Yankee Cruiser-Danika Hanover for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and M1 Stable, said she’ll be pointed to upcoming PASS legs and the Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo at The Meadows.
Saddled with post 8, Caviart Ally alertly got the lead but had to pace in :26.3 to get there. When she was pocketed by Inverse Hanover, the 4-5 favourite, she got the breather she needed. The daughter of Bettors Delight-Allamerican Cool blew by the favourite in the lane to defeat her by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.2, matching her career best. Big City Betty completed the ticket.
“That first quarter probably was a little faster than I would have liked,” said winning driver Andrew McCarthy. “I wasn’t really concerned because she was doing it easy enough. She’s a bigger track kind of horse. I had a little trouble getting her around the turns at Yonkers.”
Noel Daley conditions Caviart Ally, who boosted her lifetime bankroll to $176,822, for Caviart Farms.
In the $18,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, Tamarind, a nine-year-old son of Angus Hall-Spicegirl Kosmos, vaulted over $900,000 in career earnings when he put the field away with an explosive backside brush and triumphed in 1:53.3. Barn Girl finished second to give trainer Bill Bercury a sweep of the exacta.
Dave Palone and Merriman each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the program features an $80,000 PA Stallion Series stake for three-year-old filly pacers. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(Meadows)