Seven Colors launched the decisive move first over from fourth and powered home in a stakes record 1:48.2 in Friday’s $137,832 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes leg at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Lyons Surfing and Brue Hanover took the other divisions in the stakes, known as the Tarport Effrat, for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
It was only several weeks ago that trainer Andrew Harris and his partners, William Pollock and Bruce Areman, purchased Seven Colors from the Brian Brown stable. Harris indicated he made only a few rigging changes, such as switching to aluminum shoes behind, but the results in just two races have been spectacular: a world record 1:48.1 in the Carl Milstein at MGM Northfield and Friday’s stakes record at The Meadows to push his lifetime earnings to $372,370.
“I don’t think I can complain, that’s for sure,” Harris deadpanned.
In the Tarport Effrat, Seven Colors was unhurried early, but when Dexter Dunn tipped him off the cones, the son of Stay Hungry-Rainbowinthedark overwhelmed Loubet, who was a game second, 2-1/2 lengths back. All Class completed the ticket.
Harris said Seven Colors would be pointed to the Little Brown Jug after the Sept. 3 PASS championship at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The time knocked a tick from the mark established in 2014 by McWicked. That also was a source of satisfaction for Harris, who was an assistant to Casie Coleman when she trained McWicked that year.
“Kind of cool to get that record and put it back in my name,” said Harris.
It’s hard to imagine that Lyons Surfing, whose bank account registered $234,201, could have amassed that amount without a single win in 12 starts this year, but that was his 2023 record entering the Tarport Effrat. Winning driver Tim Tetrick thinks he knows the reason for the seasonal goose egg.
“Being parked out in the eliminations of the Meadowlands Pace really hurt him,” said Tetrick. “It took a lot out of him and it hurt his feelings. Last week, he had no step. Today, he was a little better. I think he’s turning the corner.”
The son of Stay Hungry-Surfside Sexy showed just that when he roared first up past the leader, Bamboozler, and held off the rallying Bugaboo Lou by a half-length to score in a career-best 1:50. Just Bet It All finished third.
Jim King Jr. trains Lyons Surfing for Threelyonsracing.
Brad Grant's Brue Hanover held off favourite Ken Hanover to take his first PASS division in 1:49.3 with Yannick Gingras aboard. Trained by Ron Burke, the Stay Hungry-Blind Ambition gelding earned his seventh win from 13 sophomore starts and boosted his career bankroll to 95,192.
Sophomore male pacers also competed on Friday in a $40,000 PA Stallion Series leg, with Hunters Hero (1:51.3) and Stay Grounded (1:50.2) capturing the divisions. On Friday, Sept. 8, The Meadows will host all eight $40,000 stallion series finals.
Heart On Fire and Fashion Annie were victorious in Friday’s $138,496 PASS leg for three-year-old filly trotters, known as the Stenographer.
Todd McCarthy waited until past the three-quarters to move Heart On Fire first over from third, but the daughter of Father Patrick-Corazon Blue Chip had plenty of racetrack to get the job done, triumphing in 1:54.2. Sheer Faith was second, beaten a half-length, with early leader Cando Volo third.
“She has a lot of high speed,” said McCarthy, “and I figured if I could wait until I got off the bad part of the turn to tip her and get her moving, that would be the best thing for her. She had plenty of finish. On a good day, she can go with the best of them.”
Tony Alagna conditions Heart On Fire, who boosted her lifetime bankroll to $380,321, for Eric Good.
When Fashion Annie grabbed the lead with a first-over burst, it appeared she would draw off. Instead, she triumphed by what Tetrick called a deliberately measured neck in 1:53.4.
“She likes being close to horses,” said Tetrick. “When she gets by herself, she gets lonely. That’s why I kept close. I’ve cleared before with her and she always lets go [of the bit]. She likes somebody to look at. But I never pulled the plugs today.”
Fashion Annie now has earned $258,783 for trainer Jim Campbell and owner/breeder Fashion Farms LLC.
Friday’s card also offered a $40,000 PA Stallion Series leg for sophomore filly trotters. Tipsy Moni (1:54.1) and Sweet On Her (1:56.2) each won a division.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday when the program features a $1,226.38 carryover in the Early Pentafecta (race four). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)