by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Safe From Terror, surprise winner of the Pennsylvania Sires Stake championship at 45-1, abandoned her ambush tactics and made short work of the field in a division of Monday’s (Oct. 5) $69,000 Keystone Classic at The Meadows. Somewhere Sweet captured the other division of the stake for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Safe From Terror was a 1:53.3 winner for Matt Kakaley.

After her PASS triumph, Safe From Terror scored yet another upset with a late rally in the Nadia Lobell. In the Keystone Classic, however, Matt Kakaley switched gears and sent the daughter of Western Terror-In A Safe Place to the front at the quarter pole. She prevailed in 1:53.3, a half-length better than her stablemate Southwind Roulette, with Dobre Povedane third.

“She was the best in there, so I didn’t want to take any chances,” Kakaley said. “She was very good — that was easy for her. She’s a sweetheart to drive. She’ll do whatever you want.”

Ron Burke trains Safe From Terror, who won for the 11th time this year and pushed her career bankroll to $482,742, for Our Horse Cents Stables, Stable 45 and J&T Silva Stables.

Somewhere Sweet triumphed in 1:51.1, just a tick off Weeper’s stakes record, but couldn’t separate herself from the stalkers, forcing Aaron Merriman to get after her late.

“She paced strong into the stretch,” Merriman said, “but when I pulled the plugs, she actually kind of sat down. She maybe didn’t want me to pull them.”

Somewhere Sweet downed Angel Or Terror by a length while Kays Dragon Lady earned show. Brian Brown conditions the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Sweet Work Of Art, who soared over $200,000 in lifetime earnings, for Miller’s Stable.

$91,800 Keystone Classic — 3-year-old filly trotters

Kelsey’s Keepsake and Smokinmombo each took a division of Monday’s companion feature, a $91,800 Keystone Classic for sophomore filly trotters.

Chris Gooden photos

Kelsey’s Keepsake drew off to a five length victory in her Keystone Classic division.

Kelsey’s Keepsake was fourth down the backside when Joe Bongiorno sent her after the leader, Murderers Row. Despite competing off a sickness scratch, she blew by and drew off to win by five lengths in 1:55.2 for trainer Robert Bongiorno and owner Carly Roman. Avalon Hall was second with Kirsi Hanover third.

“First over is her best game,” Joe Bongiorno said. “We knew she had this race coming up, and once she scoped a little sick after she trained, we wanted to scratch her, get her healthy and get her ready for the stake.”

Smokinmombo hadn’t won since Aug. 20, but she quarter-poled to the top for Merriman and scored in 1:55.3, two lengths better than the pocket-sitting Matter Hatter. Global Ice completed the ticket.

“She got a little rough on me in the Hambletonian Oaks and a few starts after that,” said Chris Beaver, who trains the daughter of Explosive Matter-Horizontal Mombo and owns with Synerco Ventures and James Gallagher. “I think it’s straightened out, but she’s not great on a big racetrack. She’ll go to a couple stakes at Hoosier Park.”

In the $24,800 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, Better Caviar took advantage of a backside shootout between Tamarind and Monte Cristo Spur and zipped by in the stretch to win in 1:55.1 for trainer/driver David Wade. Sixteen Mikes rallied for second, a neck back, while Monte Cristo Spur saved show. Gerald Brittingham, Kelley Rogers, William Peel III and Wade own the 7-year-old son of SJ’s Caviar-Better Credit, who now boasts $162,485 in career earnings.

The Keystone Classic series concludes Tuesday at The Meadows with a pair of stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings — a $69,750 pace and an $89,800 trot. Headliner is millionaire Wakizashi Hanover, who currently ranks third among all Standardbreds in seasonal earnings. First post is 12:55 p.m.