Arden Downs Stakes at The Meadows

By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association

WASHINGTON, PA, July 29, 2022  — Austral Hanover, whose connections feared that he would never make it as a racehorse, took another step forward in his development Friday when he captured a division of a $40,000 Arden Downs Grand Circuit stake at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Open Bar took the other split in the event, known as the Robert J. Key, for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Austral Hanover is campaigned by one of the fractional ownership groups of Anthony MacDonald, who also pilots the International Moni-Aspidistra Hanover gelding. MacDonald minces no words in his review of the horse’s training performance.

“Our expectations when we got this guy to race were very, very low,” MacDonald said. “It seemed like he couldn’t do anything right. It was the weirdest thing; when he got behind the gate for the first time, he looked like a racehorse. From that very moment he first saw the starting gate, he just decided he would do a good job. He’s the epitome of a hard worker.”

In the Robert J. Key, Austral Hanover zipped to the lead from post 6, scoring in 1:57.2 to match his career best for trainer Tim Twaddle. Big Baller Beane was second, 3/4 lengths back, with Southwind Distilld third.

In his four career starts, Open Bar has sampled a variety of race types — a PA Fairs stake, a PA Sire Stake, A PA Stallion Series event and now a Grand Circuit stake. Where does winning driver Brady Brown think he’ll eventually land.

“He’s a little green still, but he’s learning,” Brown said. “But I think he’s a sires stakes colt. When he puts 2 and 2 together, he’ll be a nice horse.”

Brown found the pocket with the Bar Hopping-Lady Sierra Gold gelding, then blew by the leader, Spitfire Oversees, to down him by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:57.4 for his maiden-breaking score. Tailgate Buzz completed the ticket.

Steve Schoeffel trains the winner for Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel, Marian Schilling and Dan Goehle. The late Robert J. Key, for home the stake is named, bred Open Bar.

$40,000 Arden Downs Stake — 2-Year-Old Filly Trotters

Uno Mas Blue Chip and Sweet On Her took the divisions of this Grand Circuit stake known as the Edward M. Ryan, the co-feature on Adios Eve.

A three-race maiden entering the stake, Uno Mas Blue Chip was confident and professional when Mike Wilder sent her first up from fourth.

“The trainer told me to be careful from the gate, get her out of there on the right foot, and she’ll do the rest,” Wilder said. “I thought that if she stayed on her feet at the three-quarters, she wouldn’t lose. She just felt that good.”

The daughter of International Moni-Make It Blue Chip cruised past the leader, Goo For Broke, and defeated Fortune Forecast by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:57.3 for her maiden-breaking voyage. Goo For Broke saved show. Clifton Green trains the winner for Ashley Burslem and Steven Mullen.

 Sweet On Her had a pair of seconds on her card but no victories. She took care of that when she moved second over for trainer/driver Wilbur Yoder and drew off to prevail by 4 lengths in 1:58.1. I’m Amused and Cando Volo finished second and third, respectively.

“All winter long I thought she was one of my better ones, then she had growing pains,” Yoder said. “Now she’s putting it all together. Hopefully we have her on the right track.”

Bob Troyer owns Sweet On Her.

TRACK RECORD-HOLDER DREAMONHIGH MAKES IT LOOKS EASY IN MEADOWS GRAND CIRCUIT STAKE

WASHINGTON, PA, July 30, 2022  — Saturday’s card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, highlighted by the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids and the Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo, also featured four other Grand Circuit stakes. Here are the highlights from those events.

$32,323 Ned McCarr 3-Year-Old Filly Trot

Dreamonhigh last year became the fastest freshman ever at The Meadows — regardless of gender — when she trotted in 1:54, so it hardly was a surprise when she dominated this stake.

The daughter of Andover Hall-RC’s Dream seized the lead from post 6, enjoyed a comfortable front half of 58 and triumphed by 9 lengths in a stake-record 1:54, lowering Donato Jewels’s previous mark by 2 ticks. Sabrina Hill and Blue Skies Shining rounded out the ticket.

“We got to float around there pretty cheap and she raced very well,” said Todd McCarthy, who drove for trainer Per Engblom and owner KAT Stables LLC. “She’s a little green still, she’s maturing, and she was very well behaved today. She’s a classy little filly.”

Dreamonhigh lifted her lifetime bankroll to $317,770.

 $35,698 James Manderino 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

This stake also was pretty much over early, as Guido Di outduelled Rose Run Xtra for the early lead and would not let him cut into the margin. Guido D defeated Rose Run Xtra by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:53.4, fastest win of his career. Andoverthewinnings finished third.

“I got into him a little bit in the last turn just to get him in gear and get him to sprint away,” said winning driver Brady Brown. “After that, it was all him. He was impressive in his last start, so I was pretty confident with him going into the race.”

The Wishing Stone-Focus On Me gelding now has banked $161,950 for trainer Steve Schoeffel and owners Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel, Lewis Falton and Sara Zidek.

$60,000 Roy Davis 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace

A fair share of good-paying winners found their way to Victory Lane on Adios Day. Before Chris Page paid $18.20 winning The Adios with Bythemissal, there had been four winners exceeding that price, toting drivers named Gingras, Merriman, Wrenn, and Page himself. But it was “favorites only” parading back after each division of the $60,000 Roy Davis, the Arden Downs Stake for 2-year-old pacing males.

Driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Threelyonsracing were the team behind two of the Roy Davis winners. First up was the Stay Hungry-Surfside Sexy colt Lyons Surfing, a $110,000 yearling purchase (his third dam was She’s A Great Lady), who broke his maiden in fine style with a 1:53.2 victory. Lyons Surfing went to the lead in a 27.4 opener, then was content to yield to second choice Crown Of Thorns, who put up middle-race splits of :56.3 and 1:25.4.  But the easy middle half gave no advantage to the pacesetter, as Tetrick moved his charge — fifth and third in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in his only other two career starts — outside on the turn, went right by the leader, and drew off to win by 7 lengths over Poseidon Deo.

Following the race, King had a bold prediction.

“I think he’s destined to be back here on this date next year (for the Adios),” he said. “I like him a lot; I don’t think he’s come anywhere close to his potential yet, and he doesn’t seem to have any issues. I’ve been pretty kind on him.

“Gotta try for the Adios. I never had me one of those. Gotta bring two next year.”

King’s crystal ball looked even clearer when he and Tetrick/Threelyonsracing came back with the Sweet Lou–Zane Hanover colt Lyons Stealth, as the colt made the top nearing a :28.3 opener, then absolutely shut down the speed, walking to the half in :58.3. Lyons Stealth responded readily when asked for speed after that, going a 28 third quarter (1:26.3) and then zipping home in 27.2 to win in 1:54 and remain perfect in three starts, having won two PA Stallion Series races previously. Pocket sitter Sweet Chilli Heat was 1-3/4 lengths behind the sprinting winner at the finish.

The Lazarus N–Inittowinafortune colt Voukefalas came to The Meadows as the fastest 2-year-old of 2022 after a 1:50 win in a New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship, and he again showed high speed in winning his section in 1:53.2. Jordan Stratton, driving for trainer Michael Russo and owner Michael Pagonas, kept Voukefalas mid-pack through early fractions of 26.3 and 56.3, then gave him his head down the backstretch, with the baby responding to clear to the lead easily before the 1:24.3 three-quarters, then keeping early pacesetter South Point 2-3/4 lengths in the rearview mirror to the line.

$35,160 Mary Lib Miller 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

The Always B Miki–Sweet Body filly Ambushed overcame post 8 in the lone division of the $35,160 Mary Lib Miller, the Arden Downs Stake for 2-year-old pacing distaffs.

Ambushed and Nevertellmetheodds, both sent off at 7-5 (with the latter favored by a mere $81), argued through a 27.2 opening panel before the second choice made the top for driver McCarthy. Ambushed went on to mid-race splits of :55.4 and 1:24.2, and there would be no ambush in the stretch from the pocket sitter, as the winner went on to prevail by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52.3, a new lifetime mark and only a tick off Lyons Sentinel’s stakes record set last year. Hunter Oakes conditions the winner, now with three straight wins including two PA Stallion Series triumphs, for D Racing Stable Inc. and Donald Mac Rae.