by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Saturday’s (July 21) Adios eliminations card at The Meadows also featured 66 freshman colt and gelding pacers vying for total purses of $312,112 — and to demonstrate they have what it takes to be champions. Indeed, several of them showed just that. Here are the highlights of the two stakes for 2-year-olds:

$190,112 Pennsylvania Sires Stake (The Albatross)

De Los Cielos Deo extended his career unbeaten streak to three — all stake victories —while Semi Tough earned Albatross honors by scoring in 1:51.1, fastest this year by a freshman on a five-eighths-mile track. Yannick Gingras drove both promising youngsters for trainer Ron Burke. Other Albatross splits went to Sugar Factory and Ehrmantraut.

Chris Gooden photo

De Los Cielos Deo remained undefeated after his third victory on Saturday at The Meadows.

A son of Captain Treacherous-Lisjune, De Los Cielos Deo quarter-poled to the front and never allowed the pocket-sitting Love Me Some Lou to get close, downing him by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:51.3. Captain Victorious finished third.

“From the first time I drove him in Florida, he was my favorite,” said Gingras of the winner, who is campaigned by Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, J&T Silva-Purnell&Libby and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. “He’s never disappointed. He’s been there from the start and he’s showing it now. What we like best about him is that he’s so smart. You want to pull, he goes. You want to go back in the hole, he goes back in the hole. He’s like a 6-year-old who knows what to do.”

At times in the past, owner John Cancelliere and trainer Tom Cancelliere have launched the careers of their brightest 2-year-olds in relatively soft spots, allowing them to gain their sea legs and develop confidence before facing the pressures of bigger stakes. That approach paid off for Sugar Factory, who debuted with a stallion series win and had little trouble stepping up to the Albatross for a facile victory in 1:52.1, 2-3/4 lengths better than Cruise Captain, with No Mas Amor third.

“We’ll see how far up he can go without torturing him,” Tom Cancelliere said of his $65,000 yearling acquisition. “His upside? We don’t know yet. He hasn’t faltered yet. He hasn’t told us, that’s enough. I want to race him only 10 or 12 times this year.”

Ehrmantraut allowed 4-5 favorite Bring The Thunder to do the heavy lifting, then blew by him in the Lightning Lane to triumph in 1:52.2 for Dave Palone, trainer Lou Pena and owners Lawrence Keethe and John Darrah. Branquinho was second, 1-1/4 lengths back, while Bring The Thunder saved show.

“There are three or four colts today, you’d lick your chops to have one,” Palone said. “I think he’s in that group. I don’t know what more you could ask from him.”

$120,000 PA Stallion Series
Latissimus Hanover made it two straight in the stallion series in a stake-fastest 1:52.4. Prince Of Tides, Highlandbeachlover, Do Ya Think, Just Plain Loco and Captain Hill captured the other divisions. Palone fashioned a stake double behind Highlandbeachlover and Do Ya Think.

Latissimus Hanover, a son of Captaintreacherous-Ladyking, quarter-poled to the top for Tim Tetrick and made short work of the field, defeating Roar Of Approval by 2-1/2 lengths. Early leader Yacht Week completed the ticket.

“We’ll keep him right in the stallion series and, hopefully, keep making the money,” said Ray Schnittker, who trains the $75,000 yearling purchase and owns with Mary Arnold and Ted Gewertz. “We have him staked pretty good for the end of the year, so hopefully he can get through this gauntlet and get the job done.”

Prince Of Tides was caught outside for most of the opening panel, but he was still tons the best, scoring for Corey Callahan in 1:54.1. Doc’s Hooligan was second, beaten 6-1/4 lengths, while Cool Your Heels earned show.

“The field didn’t really look that tough time-wise, and he had been in a lot more than the other colts,” Callahan said. “I figured I’d give him a chance to strut his stuff and take matters into our own hands. He’s a little bit immature and a little better following, but I kept him to task, and he was good.”

Ross Croghan conditions the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Tug River Princess for Let It Ride Stables, Dana Parham and Howard Taylor.