PAPI’S ROCKET
By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association Photos Splendid and Papi’s Rocket by Chris Gooden
In addition to the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids and the Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo, Saturday’s blockbuster card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows featured four Arden Downs Grand Circuit stakes. Here are highlights of those events.
$36,873 James Manderino Trot — 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Parked every step, Splendid somehow found more for Chris Lems and collected his eighth straight win. The son of Father Patrick-Long Island Tea triumphed in 1:54, a head better than the rallying Father Mike, with Blockchain third.
“He got a little rough behind the gate, which is why he couldn’t make it to the lead or get into a hole” said Todd Rooney, who trains Splendid for Rooney Racing and Trotting For Bourbon. “But I was pretty shocked when he just kept right on going.” Rooney said that, because Splendid is dually eligible in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, several options are available for his next start.
$30,098 Dwane Parker Trot — 3-Year-Old Fillies
Diamante Hanover controlled the fractions, then had to dig in to hold off the late charge of Mon Amie Martine. But the daughter of Cantab Hall-Dew To Win was up to the task, downing Mon Amie Martine by a neck in 1:55. Vickis Moni completed the ticket.
“She was trying to wear herself out a little on the front,” said winning driver Matt Kakaley. “She sometimes just wants to go too fast, too early. But she dug in game. She always tries hard.” Emily Bost trains Diamante Hanover, who soared over $100,000 in lifetime earnings, for Bruce Potter.
$43,816 Roy Davis — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
In the first of two divisions, Papi’s Rocket was sent off as the heaviest of favorites, and he repaid the confidence of his backers by taking a new mark of 1:53.2.
First and second in overnight events before closing for third after a shuffle in a PA Sire Stake last week, Papi’s Rocket got away fourth in the seven-horse field, but driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. had the son of Papi Rob Hanover–Real Touch (the dam of World Champion Summer Touch) on the move as second choice Wild Bill Wyatt was in front of the field past the quarter in :27.3, taking over command and getting a breather to a :57 half. No one mounted an outside threat before or after the 1:25.4 three-quarters; the only real test came up the inside from pocket-sitter Wild Bill Wyatt, but Papi’s Rocket held that rival safe by 1-1/4 lengths.
“I thought the horse was much the best,” Wrenn said, “so I just wanted to make that quarter-pole move and make sure he didn’t make a mistake. He’s definitely a sires stake colt. He’s getting better and better every week.”
Ron Burke, who had his usual fine Adios Day (three wins and five seconds, including sweeps of the Adioo Volo and Mary Lib Miller for an unofficial $152,939 earnings reckoning), trains the winner for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc. and Slaughter Racing Stable LLC.
The second Roy Davis division also went to a stickout in the Bettor’s Wish–Heavenly Bride colt Wedlock Blue Chip in 1:52.4. Lou’s Albano (no relation to Adios winner Captain Albano) led at the :27.4 opener, but driver Troy Beyer wanted to control his own fate and moved the youngster to the lead, putting up middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.1 before marching home in :27.3 to leave Lou’s Albano three lengths in arrears at the finish.
Wedlock Blue Chip, who had sandwiched overnight victories around a miscue in his brief career, now moves to three-for-four for trainer Roland “Polie” Mallar and the ownership of Richard Cortese and Don Hawk.
$36,117 Mary Lib Miller — 2-Year-Old Filly Trot
In 2023 driver Dexter Dunn won the Adioo Volo 3-year-old filly pace with Always B Naughty in 1:50, and he also won a division of the Mary Lib Miller companion stake for 2-year-olds with My Girl EJ in an outstanding 1:51.1. This year Dunn won the Adioo Volo with My Girl EJ in a track record 1:48.4, so that seems to leave the Dunn-driven Blessed Hanover, winner of the $36,117 single division of this year’s Mary Lib Miller/Arden Downs in 1:51.4, with history on her side, right?
Dunn did well to get away third with the Burke-trained daughter of Always B Miki–Bettor B Lucky after she was a little steppy as the gate sprang; not so fortunate was her stablemate, the favored Always Ana Hanover, who lost stride before the first turn, although recovering to land seventh early. Daily Double Deo went to the front and set fractions of :27.1, :55.3, and 1:23.1; Always Ana Hanover could find no cover and had to make her challenge from the back without benefit of drafting along.
Always Ana Hanover had reached the pacesetter by the far turn but had no cover tight on her, which gave Dunn the opportunity he needed as he slipped Blessed Hanover, owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and William Donovan, to the two-path, then wider in the stretch. Blessed Hanover paced home with a 1-3/4-length advantage over her talented but unfortunate stablemate, with Daily Double Deo another length back in third. “Training down, she was way at the back of the group,” Burke said of Blessed Hanover.” By the time we were qualifying, we thought, she’s all right. Her time today was legit. She’s showed us enough to keep her staked to everything.”
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.