by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Moosonee moved three-wide into the final turn and roared through the lane to capture the fastest division in Saturday’s $174,888 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters at The Meadows. The event, known as the Super Bowl, was contested over four divisions, with Captain Morgan, Whats The Word and Donatover also taking splits. None of the winners was the betting favorite, suggesting that this division will be wide open throughout the PASS season.

Moosonee wins the fastest division (1:54) in Sire Stakes action on Saturday.

Moosonee might more appropriately have been called “Monsoonee” for the Super Bowl after a brief, monsoon-like storm rendered the track sloppy. That didn’t deter the Explosive Matter-Lady Andover gelding, who angled off the cones for Aaron Merriman and zipped home in a career-best 1:54 in his sophomore debut. Defending PA champ Fashionwoodchopper was trapped in but was able to shoot the Lightning Lane for second, 1-1/2 lengths back, with early leader Gemologist third.

“I broke his maiden with him last year, and he showed some potential,” Merriman said. “As you can see, he grew up a lot. The way he qualified at Northfield, I was very confident today. He won absolutely in hand.”

Chris Beaver trains Moosonee for Winterbeary Farm.

Captain Morgan won a single race at 2, but he came back more powerful and determined, scoring handily on the front end for Christian Lind, trainer Staffan Lind and owners Lind Racing Stable, Bender Sweden Inc., Roy Holth and Kemppisuojalampistable. Evaluate was second, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, while Im Your Captain completed the ticket.

“He was kind of immature last year; he made some stupid breaks,” Staffan Lind said of the son of Cantab Hall-Muchness. “This year, he’s a completely different horse. We even took off the hopples.”

Added Christian Lind: “He’s always good on the front. As soon as he feels the presence of another horse, he just picks up speed and grabs the bit.”

Trainer Janice Connor removed the hopples from Whats The Word before his last race; the improvement showed, as he moved confidently first over for Corey Callahan and wore down Hill Street, downing him by two lengths in 1:54.1, a life mark. Dawson Springs earned show.

“He raced with hopples last year but trained down really well without them this year,” said Connor, who owns the son of Donato Hanover-Your Word Is Good with Arden Homestead Stable. “He blew up two starts ago, so we put the hopples back. We also went back to a hood with no earplugs.”

$80,000 PA Stallion Series Stake — 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters
The stallion series event, the co-feature on Saturday’s Preakness Day card, might have seemed an unlikely spot for Lindy’s Big Bang following his May 5 victory in the $133,800 Dexter Cup, but he overcame a tough trip to win. Also collecting victories were I Know My Rights, Joey and Rich And Miserable. Tyler Buter and his father, trainer Todd Buter, enjoyed a stake double with I Know My Rights and Rich And Miserable.

Chris Gooden photos

Lindy’s Big Bang collects another victory in the PA Stallion Series at The Meadows.

Stuck with post eight, Lindy’s Big Bang raced outside before getting the lead near the three-eighths. He held off the rallying Meadowbranch Ricky by a length in 1:55.4, with early leader Bautista third.

“It was kind of a group decision (to race him in the stallion series),” said winning driver David Miller, who owns the Explosive Matter-Lindy Of My Dreams gelding with Melvin Hartman and David McDuffee. “I don’t know if he can trot in 1:53, and the sires stakes are subject to going that fast. We’ll keep him brave. Hopefully, he can keep winning. When they get to winning, sometimes it helps their attitude.”

Nifty Norman conditions Lindy’s Big Bang, who lifted his career bankroll to $127,233.

Looped from the gate, I Know My Rights powered to the point and was much the best, prevailing by 2-3/4 lengths over Konnichiwa in a career-best 1:56, with Whoucalncrazy third. Tyler Buter, Lynette Buter and Gene Oldford Farms campaign I Know My Rights, who now has banked $140,505.

“He definitely wintered well,” Tyler Buter said. “He was full of himself. He can be a handful sometimes, but on the track he’s a gentleman. Our plan is just to take care of him, and if Dad wants to try him against the tougher ones, then we will.”

Joey entered the race off two straight impressive wins in overnights, but could he handle stakes company? Trainer Leslie Zendt was confident he could.

“He’s always shown that he’s had a lot of talent,” she said of the son of Yankee Glide-Jodi’s Jayme she owns with Bill Zendt. “We’ve had a little trouble with him getting around the turns here. We always thought he’d be better on a bigger track, but you have to start somewhere.”

Joey moved first up for Dave Palone and triumphed in 1:55.2, a half length ahead of Unforgetable, while Mississippi Storm earned show.