by Tyler Stillings for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, photo by Chris Gooden, The Fix is In
Three-year-old colt and gelding trotters took center stage Friday as Sire Stake action returned to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows with two divisions of the Hickory Smoke Stakes and four Stallion Series events.
The Fix Is In took the first division of sire stake action for trainer / driver Charlie Norris. Sitting a slightly gapped fifth at the half, Norris moved the gelded son of International Moni down the backside. After engaging the leader Green Mel into the turn, “Fix” used a 27 second last quarter to gain a ¾ length victory over a fast-closing pocket sitter Hey Porter in 1:54.3.
“I felt if I could get him close late, that he could trot home as well as anyone in this field.” A $5,500 yearling purchase, The Fix Is In is owned by Carrie Norris and Max Hempt.
The second division saw a combination of Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Ronnie Burke pull off a mild upset with Big Shoes. Making his season debut, Big Shoes raced covered up till near the ¾. Two lengths off the leader at the top of the stretch, Big Shoes would take advantage of several uncertain steps by leader Meshuggah to win by 1 ½ lengths in a lifetime best effort of 1:52.4. Trainer Ron Burke confirmed what the teletimer showed, “He’s a fast horse, the speed has always been there, keeping him focused is Wrenn’s job and he does it well.” Burke shares ownership with Weaver, Bruscemi and Breeder, Knox Services.
In the first Stallion Series, Andy Miller put Gimlet Hanover on the lead through soft fractions and kicked home 28.4 to win in 1:56.4. DR Ackerman owns and trains the three-year-old Bar Hopping gelding who now has four wins in twelve lifetime starts.
Brian Zendt put Aperol Hanover on the lead for the second week in a row, both weeks resulting in lifetime best 1:56.1 victories. The Bar Hopping gelding is owned in partnership by trainer Bill Zendt, McCallister and Gary Saul.
In the third division, Messenger Hanover and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. patiently worked their way to the lead and once there, trotted on to a 1:56.2 effort. Beasty LLC, James Simpson, J & T Silva-Purnel & Libby share ownership of the Bar Hopping son with trainer Ron Burke.
The Final division would prove to be the fastest and the closest of the four divisions. Aggressively sent from post 4, Mike Wilder and Honalulu Hanover were able to get enough distance between themselves and Lefties and Righties to hold a head advantage at the wire in 1:55.4. The mile was the first win of the year and lifetime best for the son of Bar Hopping owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Switala and Martin.
For the day driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr and trainer Ronnie Burke each won three. Also, today late Sire, Bar Hopping swept all four stallion series winners.
The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) is a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of approximately 700 Standardbred trainers, drivers, caretakers and owners at The Meadows. In addition to providing horses to race at The Meadows, MSOA administers such member-centric services as health insurance and retirement programs for horsemen and horsewomen.