Washington, PA – A pair of $63,826 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes “Meadow Cheer” divisions, accompanied by three $20,000 Stallion Series events, brought 2-year-old pacing fillies to a rain-soaked Hollywood Casino at The Meadows on Thursday afternoon (Aug. 20).
JK Lady Liberty added to her growing résumé with a near wire-to-wire effort in her Meadow Cheer division. Scott Zeron landed the Captain Crunch filly a close-up third but was out and moving before the quarter. Once settled on the lead, the pair reached the half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:23.4. The final quarter saw JK Lady Liberty fend off second-place finisher Positive Process on her left and third-place Loyal To The End on her right, stopping the timer in 1:52. Trained by Nancy Takter for 3 Brothers Stable, it was the fourth win in a row and third PASS victory for JK Lady Liberty.
Zeron used the rail to perfection with Fauvette Hanover to score a 28-1 upset in her Meadow Cheer division. Zeron placed the daughter of Papi Rob Hanover behind the two betting favorites, Aestas and Gold Impact, through an opening quarter of :27. A middle half of :58.3 brought little movement, but that changed at the head of the stretch. Aestas popped the pocket and went after the leader, Gold Impact, leaving the passing lane for Fauvette Hanover. It would take the length of the stretch, but the Britney Dillon pupil nosed out Aestas for the 1:53.2 victory. William Hartt and Dillon own the $30,000 Standardbred Horse Sale yearling purchase.
All three Stallion Series division winners had one thing in common: driver Dave Palone.
Boardwalk Babe was the fastest division winner, using a quarter-pole move to the lead and cruising to a 2-length victory in 1:52.2. The daughter of Sweet Lou is now three-for-three in Stallion Series action for trainer Joe Pavia Jr. and owners Double the Fun Stable.
Set It Up and Palone navigated a hectic opening quarter, but once on the lead, cruised to a 1:53.1 effort. Owned by Let It Ride Stables, South Mountain Stables and Richard Freese, the daughter of Heston Blue Chip is now two-for-two in Stallion Series competition for trainer Linda Toscano.
Odds On Wonderful had things all her own way in a 3-1/4-length romp in her Stallion Series division. From post 1, Palone was able to work out a comfortable :57.1 half, setting up a :27.4 final panel that sealed her maiden victory in 1:53.4. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the daughter of Stay Hungry for owner Odds On Racing.
Palone earned the day’s driving honors with four victories, while 12 different trainers scored wins.
Racing resumes Friday (Aug. 21), featuring the $129,491 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes “Tyler B,” for 2-year-old male pacers. First-race post time is 5:10 p.m. (EDT).