By Tyler Stillings for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association
Sire Stakes action once again visited Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, Thursday afternoon. It was 2-year- old colt pacers revving up for the September 5th Pennsylvania Sire Stake final. The day’s action would see all three Stallion Series winners take lifetime bests and two Tyler B sire stakes winners that make the upcoming final a must see.
Trainer Ron Burke swept the Tyler B Stakes with two eye popping efforts, one resulting in a world record. Al Papi and Yannick Gingras put all the numbers on their way to a stake, track and world record for 2-year-old colts on a 5/8 track. A steady opening half of 55.4 was just the beginning as Al Papi and Gingras would let go of a 53.3 back half to hold a length over the well raced Toast of the Town. “He was impressive last week and today he was super,” Gingras
AI PAPI (Chris Gooden Photo)
afterwards, “off those numbers he still had some left” he concluded with a grin. The homebred son of Papi Rob Hanover now has earnings over $100,000 to go with his lifetime best for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Lawrence Karr and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
A quarter pole move by Frantic Hanover and Tim Tetrick is all the pair would need to stay unbeaten on their way to a 1:50 lifetime best in the second Tyler B Stakes division. Thai Hanover and Dave Miller were quick off the car and once Frantic Hanover oved to the lead from third, the race was over. Off a 56 half and ¾’s in 1.23.3, Tetrick let the Stay Hungry colt sprint home in 26.3 to stay a perfect five for five. Tetrick described the colt afterwards as “growing and learning how to do racehorse stuff that makes my job as a driver easier.” Purchased by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Bradley Grant, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi LLC for $35,000, Frantic Hanover’s five career wins have earned over $150,000 in his career.
The first division of the Stallion Series saw Southwind Spencer and Hall of Famer David Miller power move their way to a “lifetime best” 1:52.4 in the fastest Stallion Series Division. Sitting 4th until past the 5/8, Miller put the Tall Dark Stanger colt in play first over, clearing mid turn and maintaining a multi-length lead through the wire. It was the second Stallion Series victory for Southwind Spencer who is owned by Geraldine Poerio and trained by longtime Meadows trainer Doug Snyder.
Loumelo Ball made it two in a row in Stallion Series action with a career best 1:53.1 in the second division. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. guided the Sweet Lou Colt to the lead before the quarter before releasing to McHungry and Mike Wilder. The Burke trainee would use a stretch long
rally to overtake the pacesetter McHungry to pick up his 2nd win from five lifetime starts for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi, Libby and Purnel and Lawrence Karr.
Easy Breeze found the Stallion Series to his liking as David Miller put the Eddie Dennis trainee on the lead for a 1:53.3 lifetime mark. On the front end following an early move, the Sweet Lou colt was able to get away to a two-length victory following some uncertain steps late in the mile from pocket sitter Secret Society who still managed to hold place. Owned in partnership by E & K Stables Inc, Roy Parker Jr., Mulligan Stables and William Mears it was the third win in six lifetime starts and first Stallion Series triumph.
For the day, The Burke Brigade’s half dozen winners gave them top honors while Hoosier stalwart Trent Stohler had a training double. The driver side of the leader board had Dave Palone and Ronnie Wrenn Jr sharing top honors, each winning three and David Miller along with Tim Tetrick each captured two stakes events.
For the week Ronnie Wrenn Jr, took top honors for the abbreviated three-day race week with thirteen victories and Dave Palone along with Mike Wilder each notching six wins.
There will be no live racing Friday August 22nd and Saturday August 23rd, however live racing will resume August 27th with first race post 12:45pm. Hollywood Casino at The Meadows will also return to a four-day race schedule of Wednesday through Saturday.