by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Brushed off at 18-1, Picasso Spur made his maiden win a memorable one on Monday (Sept. 20) at The Meadows by scoring an upset victory in a Keystone Classic division.

The $103,402 stake for freshman colt and gelding trotters was contested over three divisions, with Haulin Laser and Kash’s Cantab taking the other splits.

Not only was Picasso Spur in tough, but his regular trainer/driver, Dick Stillings, was racing Monday at the Delaware County Fair. Knowing he would be away, Stillings recruited Doug Snyder to drive Picasso Spur.

“I trained him for Dickie over the weekend,” Snyder reported. “He has a funny little skip and hop when he’s going slow, and Dickie didn’t want me to be upset with his gait. It was just a matter of getting to know him. He was gawking around when I moved him, but when I got on him a little bit, he got going.”

The pairing was an immediate hit, as Picasso Spur saved ground until the three-quarters, moved first over and scored in 1:59.3. Fawkes was three-quarters of a length back in second, with 3-5 favorite Luckycharm Hanover third. Roy Davis owns Picasso Spur, a gelded son of SJ’s Caviar-Exit Row Hanover.

“Dickie probably will be back in the sulky next race, but I’ll drive this one anytime,” Snyder said.

Haulin Laser’s resume showed only a maiden victory in two starts entering the Keystone Classic, but he, too, performed like a seasoned veteran, following cover to score in a stakes-best 1:57.3, a half-length better than Buffalino Hanover. Early leader Mythical Hall was third.

Dan Charlino piloted the Broadway Hall-Lisa’s Laser gelding for trainer Jim Mulinix and owners DM Stables and Denny Miller.

Kash’s Cantab, who had flashed both talent and gaiting problems in his first seven races, exhibited all the former and none of the latter Monday as he converted a pocket trip to victory for Ray Paver in 1:57.4. The ground-saving Opinion Hanover was second, a length in arrears, while the 4-5 favorite, Big And Little, completed the trifecta.

Danny Collins trains Kash’s Cantab, a son of Cantab Hall-O’Cala Kash, for Wayne Zollars and Slaughter Racing Stable.

Dave Palone drove six winners — five for trainer Ron Burke — on the 15-race card.