By: Tyler Stillings for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association
The twilight card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows featured sophomore fillies as the center of attention. Four Pennsylvania Stallion Series divisions served as the opening act for three $35,000 Adios Betty Sire Stakes divisions.
Driver Andrew McCarthy waited until just before the quarter pole before moving Miss Jum Jabber and her six-race win streak to the lead through an opening panel of :28.1. The pace never slowed from there, with fractions of :56.2 at the half and a :26.3 backside sprint to the three-quarters. Miss Jum Jabber still needed a :27 final quarter to hold off the persistent Bahama Momma for a lifetime-best 1:50 victory and her seventh consecutive win. The mile by the daughter of Bettor’s Wish was the fastest of the three divisions. Miss Jum Jabber is trained and owned by Brett Pelling.
Chris Gooden Photo
A compact field of five provided the closest Adios Betty finish, as just a half-length separated the first four finishers. At the wire, it was Hope Hill and Mike Wilder using the Lightning Lane to win their division. Wilder put the Papi Rob Hanover filly in position in the first turn to follow betting favorite Bettor Be A Star. After a two-hole trip and a :27.1 closing kick, Hope Hill recorded a new lifetime mark and added an Adios Betty victory to her résumé. Hope Hill is owned in the UK by Tom Hill and trained in the USA by Ohio stalwart Virgil Morgan Jr.
Chris Gooden Photo
The third division of the Adios Betty Sire Stakes saw I’m A Lou Lou and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. go coast-to-coast to win in 1:50.1. Leaving from post four, Wrenn sent the Sweet Lou filly through a tone-setting :27 opening quarter with Makemblush Hanover tracking in second. I’m A Lou Lou used a :26.4 third quarter to try to seal the deal, but Wrenn still needed to urge a :27.3 final panel to hold off the game Makemblush Hanover. Ron Burke trains for the ownership combination of Burke Racing LLC, Knox Services, Lawrence Karr, and Phillip Collura.
Chris Gooden Photo
The four Stallion Series divisions began with Sicerto, who came first-over from fourth during a :27.0 third quarter. Despite the tough trip, the Sweet Lou filly was able to get past front-runner Carolina for a lifetime-best 1:52 victory. Sicerto is owned by CTC Stable, KDP Stable, and Manklin Creek LLC and trained by Noel Daley.
An easy second quarter and a :26.1 third-quarter sprint proved to be the right combination for Tall Dark Tequila’s Stallion Series victory. Dave Palone sent the Tall Dark Stranger filly to the lead before the quarter, and she outlasted Make It Right for a career-best 1:51.4 effort. Hunter Oakes trains Tall Dark Tequila for Pennsylvania owners Flying A Racing Stable and Chuck Pompey.
The combination of Ron Burke and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. captured Divisions 3 and 4 of the Stallion Series, first with Joyful Hanover and then with Real Fast. Wrenn’s quarter-pole move with Joyful Hanover put the filly in position to use a :27.1 final quarter to hold off Gracious. The 1:51.3 effort was a career mark for the Always B Miki filly owned by Burke Racing LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, William Switala, and James Martin.
Sitting third until the three-quarter pole, Wrenn Jr. moved Real Fast and, aided by a :27.1 closing panel, the filly lived up to her name with a 1:52 Stallion Series victory. The Papi Rob Hanover filly was a two-length winner for owners Burke Racing LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Knox Services Inc., and Slaughter Racing Stable LLC.
For the evening, the Burke Stable took training honors with five victories, while driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. won seven of the card’s 11 races.
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows resumes racing Saturday, June 6, with a first-race post time of 12:45 p.m.