Arden Downs Stakes 2024
By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association
July 27
The Meadows
Washington, PA
Purse $66,971 (2 Divisions)
$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.
July 27
The Meadows
Washington, PA
Purse $80,233 (3 Divisions)
$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.”
TRACK RECORD-HOLDER WAPITI BLUE CHIP ADDS STAKE MARK IN MEADOWS GRAND CIRCUIT EVENT
July 26
The Meadows
Washington, PA
Purse $100,000 (5 Divisions)
$60,000 Robert J. Key Colt & Gelding Trot
Hammered down to 1-5, Wapiti Blue Chip was away second before Dave Palone moved him at the quarter. The long-striding International Moni-Make It Blue Chip gelding effortlessly widened his lead thereafter and triumphed in 1:55.2, 8-1/2 lengths better than I’ll Have A Double, with Owls Nest third.
It wasn’t as fast as his 1:54.2 track record, but the time knocked a tick from the stake mark established by Dancinginthedark in 2020. Mahlon Martin, who previously indicated the colt will race primarily in Pennsylvania this year, trains him for Ashley Burslem, Steven Mullen and Gregory Garton.
“I just wanted to babysit him around there so he could do it as easy as he could,” Palone said. “Now I know how he broke the track record. He was well within himself.”
Just how facile was the victory?
“I’m pretty sure you could’ve done that,” Palone teased the local flak.
Bombay Tom found himself in a more competitive split, but the Bar Hopping-Miss Wilia gelding was up to it, using two moves to notch a 4-3/4-length victory in 1:57.2 for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.. Livin It Up and Manhattan Moni rounded out the ticket.
“He’s shown constant improvement,” said Norm Parker, who conditions Bombay Tom for Bart Brice. Todd Brice, Charles Receski and Ed Receski. “With his attitude now, he always seems like he wants to go forward. When you ask him, he goes on.”
Parker also paused to remember the contributions of the late owner/breeder Bob Key, for whom the stake is named. Key sent many horses from his large stable to Parker, who hasn’t forgotten it.
“Bob was always good to me,” said Parker as he hoisted his winner’s plaque. “That’s what makes this so special.”
Arrowhead Hanover took the third division for Anthony MacDonald, trainer Tim Twaddle and owner Thestable Arrowheadhanover.
$40,000 Edward M. Ryan Filly Trot
On paper, Blueberry appeared to lay over the field, based on her two in-the-money finishes in Pennsylvania Sire Stake splits. The actual race provided no surprises, as the daughter of Father Patrick-Perfect Image jogged in a career-best 1:57. Bringontheconfetti was 3-3/4 lengths back in second, with Dianne Hanover third.
“It didn’t look like she was in tough, so I didn’t want to use her,” said Brian Zendt, who piloted Blueberry for trainer Doug Snyder and owner Geraldine Poerio. “She can save those hard races for later in the year. That was pretty easy on her. She was really hot starting out, but she’s been behaving so well.”
A two-race maiden entering the Ed Ryan, Payback Moni nevertheless attracted 3-5 play. She justified that support by pulling the pocket near the three-quarters for Brady Brown and going on to edge the game Country Victory by a nose in 1:57.2. Can It Be Magic earned show.
“I was out the whole first turn,” Brown said. “I was being a little careful with her because she ran last week. I was confident in her when I pulled the pocket, but the filly on the front end fought on harder than I thought she would.”
Steve Schoeffel trains the daughter of International Moni-Blurred for Kathy Schoeffel, Dan Goehle and Jim Reuther.
