by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Testing stakes waters for the first time, Easy Dream found the sloppy track just ducky as she shattered the record for the Stenographer, a $258,230 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 3-year-old trotting fillies, on Tuesday (May 11) at The Meadows.

The event was conducted over five divisions, with Perfect Chance, Barham Hanover, Top Photo and Greathallofchina capturing the other splits.

Chris Gooden photo

Easy Dream won in a stakes record clocking of 1:56.1.

Unraced at 2 because of slow development, Easy Dream began her career impressively, winning three of four overnight events at Georgian Downs and Woodbine. In her stakes debut, trainer/driver Jean Dubois sent her to an easy lead from post two. She brooked no challenges, drawing off to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Upfront OB’s Janet, with Spicy Wings third.

The time of 1:56.1 erased the old mark of 1:57 established by No Nonsense Woman in 1997. Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme bred and owns the daughter of SJ’s Caviar-Elegant Dame.

Perfect Chance took the overland route for Tim Tetrick, coming first over to wear down the leader, Secret Magic, and score in 1:56.3. Royal Clout nosed out Secret Magic for place, 2-3/4 lengths back.

“She’s a strong filly, does everything right,” said Robert Baggitt, Jr., who trains the Andover Hall-Perfect Patty filly for owner/breeder Mitchell Walker. “The big thing is, she has the heart. She’s a fighter who likes to come from off the trot. Sooner or later, we’ll have to leave with her, we know that. For now, we’ll stick to the game plan.”

He said Perfect Chance, who vaulted over $100,000 in lifetime earnings, would get a few weeks off before resuming her campaign at Harrah’s Chester to prep for stakes in Canada.

Barham Hanover hadn’t raced since early October, but Mike Wilder had no qualms about putting her on the lead, where she triumphed in 1:58, a length better than the pocket-sitting Miss Ridge. Glorydays Hanover rebounded from a parked-out first quarter to earn show.

“She’s a very handy filly,” Wilder said. “I didn’t have to be on the front, but I wanted to put her in position, and if I got left on the front, that doesn’t seem to bother her. She did her work on an awful day. I couldn’t be more happy with her first start.”

Dan Altmeyer trains the daughter of Cantab Hall-Bar Queen and owns with Heather Wilder, Richard Kelson and Jack Piatt II. Barham Hanover has finished out of the money only once in an 11-race career that has yielded $271,023 in earnings.

Aaron Merriman and Brett Miller each drove three winners on the 15-race card.