by Evan Pattak for The Meadows

Washington, PA — World Champion Sweet Lou dusted his competition Friday in a $281,335 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows, pronouncing himself fit and sharp for next week’s North America Cup eliminations.

The event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, known as the Bye Bye Byrd, was contested over three divisions, with Star Recruit and Shady Breeze capturing the other splits. Dave Palone, who piloted Sweet Lou and Shady Breeze, continued his sizzling streak; his seven wins gave him 13 over two days and 15,116 for his career as he chases Herve Filion’s North American record of 15,180.

The omens didn’t bode well for Sweet Lou, as heavy rains rendered the track sloppy, and his sulky suffered a flat tire just before the start of the race. But the 2011 Dan Patch awardee apparently isn’t superstitious, as he glided through the slop to score by 5 lengths in 1:50.3. McErlean was second, with All Week third.

“I’m speechless,” said Palone of Sweet Lou, who has won both of his 2012 starts and 12 of 14 for his career. “The track is horrendous, and he just plowed right through it with his earplugs in and shut down. I never released him. He couldn’t be going into the North America Cup any better.”

Palone noted that the son of Yankee Cruiser-Sweet Future is even more physically imposing than he was at 2.

“At the end of last year, when most colts are losing weight and tucking up, he got bigger and more intimidating,” Palone said. “To me, he looks like the Adios statue.”

Ron Burke trains Sweet Lou, who was hammered down to 1-9 in the wagering, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and Peter Collura.

Star Recruit appeared hopelessly boxed in heading for home. But when several horses in front of him went wide, the Dragon Again-Remarkable Star gelding shot the Lightning Lane for Mike Wilder and triumphed in 1:53.1. Bakin On The Beach was second by a head while early leader McAttaboy completed the trifecta.

Peggy Carter, Steve Carter, Robert Reid and Chuck Grubbs own Star Recruit, who banked $232,386 as a freshman but was given a qualifier by trainer Bruce Riegle when he finished third and fourth in his initial 2012 outings.

“He’s not a great trainer, and we felt he wasn’t tight enough,” Riegle said. “So we used a qualifier as a tightener. He’ll stay in Pennsylvania for now, but later in the year, he’s eligible for stakes worth about $750,000 in Indiana and Chicago.”

Shady Breeze notched a front-end victory by 2-1/4 lengths over McBoogie in 1:53.2. My Sugar Daddy earned show money. It was the fifth win in 11 lifetime races for the Nuclear Breeze-Myternintheshade ridgling.

“He has a high turn of speed, but he’s really better from off the pace,” said owner/trainer/breeder Judy Welty. “I’d like to see him start coming from there because he might be in tougher and tougher.”

In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Pace, Tremor Hanover made it three straight with a length victory over Jans Luck in 1:53.2. My Drag Queen was third. Brian Zendt drove for trainer Aaron Johnston and owners Charles Moses and Shawn Johnston. The 6-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native-Terrie Letsgo extended her career bankroll to $261,300.

Burke fashioned a four bagger while Tony Hall drove three winners on the 16-race card.