By Tyler Stillings, for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, photo of Asphalt by Chris Gooden
Pennsylvania Sire Stake action returned to Hollywood Casino at The Meadows Saturday (June 7) with 3-year-old fillies taking center stage. With a supporting cast of six Stallion Series divisions; two divisions of the Adios Betty Stakes would each feature returning 2-year-old stars, as well as a couple young starlets, each vying for a role of Pennsylvania’s 2025 leading lady.
Time of the Season and Aaron Merriman used the combination of a backside bull rush and a :27 final quarter for a three-length victory in her Stallion Series Division. Tim Twaddle trains the 3-year-old filly, Saturday’s fastest Stallion Series winner by Bettors Wish for owner breeder Birnam Wood Farms.
The Linda Ronstadt’s hit song “It’s So Easy” summed up the performance for her sophomore namesake. Ronstadt’s :27 last quarter made her a three-length widening winner in a lifetime best 1:51.4. Trained by Tony Alagna, the Brittany Farm, Marvin Katz owned homebred won driven to victory by Chris Page.
Karma and Ronnie Wrenn Jr secured themselves a pocket trip and from there took advantage of early and constant pressure on the leader to earn a Stallion Series win. Trained by Ron Burke for owners Thomas & Scott Dillion, Karma’s mile of 1:51.4, her first of 2025, is a lifetime best for the daughter of Tall Dark Stranger.
Sammy Jo Hanover and Chris Page would move uncovered from third and hold off a late challenge for a 1:52 upset victory in their division. Sent off at odds of 10-1 in the three seasonal starts for trainer Scott DiDominco. Oompa Farms and Joseph Barbere own the Captaintreacherous Filly who last season bankrolled over $120,000 for her connections.
Always Dawn and Aaron Merriman took full advantage of some late afternoon hard ball for a lifetime best victory in 1:52.2. Owned by Leo Fleming and trained by Anthony Beaton, it was the first victory of the year for the Always B Miki offspring.
Local trainer Sarah Andrews conditioned Fancy Like Louuuuu to a victory in her Stallion Series event. Aaron Merriman put the son of Sweet Lou in play first up, resulting in a lifetime best 1:52 effort for Sandbur Farms and part owner / trainer Andrews.
Fresh off a win in a maiden claiming event and set off at odds of 6-1, Good as You and driver Andrew McCarthy sprung a mild upset in the first quarter of the Adios Betty division.
“Going out of there from the rail, I was looking for someone to follow and avoided being first over. When that trip didn’t materialize, the Trent Stohler trained Good As You would take just that route.
“Top of the stretch,” McCarthy replied when asked when he thought an upset was possible. Stohler shares ownership and breeding credit with Benjamin Grabor of the Papi Rob filly. Saturday’s victory not only was a lifetime best but nearly triples her lifetime earnings.
“Very powerful attitude that translates into her racing,” is how Jack Pelling, fresh off his first stake win at The Meadows, described his sophomore filly following the victory.
After Asphalt kept her perfect season intact by taking the fastest division of the Adios Betty. Driving for trainer Brett Pelling, Jack Pelling’s aggressive handling early put the daughter of Papi Rob Hanover in a perfect spot. From there, the pair would follow pacesetter Tie the Knot until popping the two hole at the three-quarter pole and pacing away to a two-length victory over a fast-closing Papi Grad, making her seasonal debut. Now four for four this season, Asphalt’s owned by Margaret Dey of New Jersey.
For the day, Aaron Merriman’s four wins, two Stallion Series, on the day not only made him the day’s winningest driver but vaulted him into a three-way tie for week honors with Dave Palone and Ronnie Wrenn Jr.
On the trainer side, 13 different trainers were victorious. Dirk Simpson stood alone as the only trainer to double up on Saturday. For the week, Ron Burke’s five winners were tops among local trainers.