Washington, PA – The main attractions Friday afternoon (May 15) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows featured 3-year-old trotting fillies. Four divisions of Pennsylvania Stallion Series action led up to the day’s main events, two $49,000 divisions of the “Meadow Bright” Pennsylvania Sires Stakes.
Maya Patel Hanover had lifetime earnings of $118,153 but zero lifetime wins before Friday’s $49,326 division of the Pennsylvania Sires Stake. She now has earnings of $142,816 and one victory. Dave Palone landed and raced the Captain Corey filly third before angling off the rail in the final turn and outsprinting Atlantic Summer to the wire to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:54.2. The Åke Svanstedt trainee used a :27.3 final quarter to earn her first victory from nine lifetime starts. Maya Patel Hanover is owned by Åke Svanstedt Inc. and Brittany Farms.
Following a Stallion Series victory earlier in the card, driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Vernon Beachy teamed up again in the second $49,326 PASS division. Wendalyn Hanover was sent right to the lead by Wrenn, where she faced a brief challenge in the final turn and a late surge from Frattina Diablo S before holding on for the lifetime-best 1:54.4 victory. The Greenshoe filly is owned by 518 Group, Ryan Smith, and Gitup Racing.
Wrenn and Beachy captured the first of the four $20,000 Stallion Series events with JL Serenity. Wrenn secured the two-hole through an opening first quarter of :27.3 and later used the Lightning Lane and a :28.2 final quarter to get the victory in 1:54.4, which was the fastest Stallion Series division and a new career best. The daughter of Captain Corey is owned by 518 Group and Ryan Smith.
A second-over trip to the head of the stretch gave Duilcinea Hanover her Stallion Series victory, as well as her maiden-breaking score. Nico Karna followed Intisaar Mil to the top of the stretch, tipped off cover, and trotted away to a 2-length victory in 1:55. Noel Daley trains the Greenshoe filly for Harbor Racing Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, James McGovern, and Vincent Urciuoli.
Willow Oak Racing’s Sister Wine went gate-to-wire from post 6 to earn her Stallion Series victory in the third division. Driven by Andy Miller for trainer Julie Miller, the Bar Hopping filly capitalized on favorable early fractions to pick up her first win of the season in 1:56.3.
The final Stallion Series division of the day saw Cocktail Captain and Mike Wilder upset their field at odds of 58-1. Sitting fourth, Wilder moved the Captain Corey filly just before the three-quarters and chased down the pacesetting favorite, Just Teasing, for the 1:55.4 victory. Owned by Matthew Miller and trained by Nathan Bresnahan, Cocktail Captain now has three wins on the season and a new lifetime mark.
For the day, driver Palone took top honors with four driving victories while trainer Brandon Presto edged Beachy three wins to two. Racing resumes at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Saturday (May 16) at 12:45 p.m. (EDT).