by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Ginger And Fred, Pennsylvania’s 2-year-old filly pacing champion in 2008, kicked off her sophomore season in impressive fashion on Monday (May 18) at The Meadows by easily taking a division of a $246,590 Pennsylvania Sires Stake.

The stake for 3-year-old fillies, known as the Adios Betty, was contested over five divisions, with Cams Van Go, Kiss Me Kate, Attitude Hanover and Billie Bluechip also capturing splits. Dave Palone enjoyed a driving triple (Ginger And Fred, Kiss Me Kate, and Attitude Hanover) in the Adios Betty.

Chris Gooden photo

Ginger And Fred danced to a 1:52.4 score in her sophomore debut.

Ginger And Fred hadn’t raced since the Breeders Crown final on Nov. 29 when she finished a weary ninth. Palone said he ducked early to ease the filly’s return to the racing wars.

“I was real conscious of keeping her quiet the first quarter since she tired a couple times toward the end of last year,” Palone said. “I wanted to let her get settled, which she did. She did everything beautifully.”

Ginger And Fred made the front with a quarter-pole move and sprinted home in 1:52.4, five lengths better than Credit Rating. Surveille Hanover finished third. The victory left Ginger And Fred $4 short of $200,000 in career earnings.

Ron Burke, who trains the daughter of Real Artist-Graceful Motion for the partnership of Taylor, Feldman, Gold and Silva, said the filly is heavily staked this year and could be among the elite of her division.

“We hope she’ll be a world-class filly,” Burke said. “She’s staked to everything. She’s a sound horse and she’s eating well. As long as we don’t screw her up, she’ll do fine.”

Cams Van Go found herself in a four-ply battle for the early lead, not precisely where Randy Tharps wanted her.

“It was pretty hectic that first quarter, and I was hoping to turn Smooth Silver loose,” Tharps said. “But I got stuck out there and hoped I’d get a breather somewhere. I didn’t get it down the backside because there was such a headwind.”

But the daughter of Real Artist-Cam’s Valentine was resolute on the front, discouraging any serious challenge and prevailing in 1:54.1, a career best. Smooth Silver was 1-1/2 lengths back in second, with Melissa’s Fancy third. Marty Wollam trains Cams Van Go, who is eligible for the Courageous Lady at Northfield.

Palone pulled the pocket with Kiss Me Kate before the three-quarter pole, only to find that Backstreet Sweetie and Brett Miller weren’t ready to surrender the lead.

“The only reason I pulled was because Brett’s horse looked rough gaited to me,” Palone said. “I looked like a clown once I got out there and didn’t clear. But my filly made me look good. She hung tough.”

Kiss Me Kate persevered and went on to a three-quarter length victory over Singnoevil Hanover in 1:53.4. Backstreet Sweetie saved show. Jimmy Takter trains Kiss Me Kate, a daughter of Real Artist-Katies Lucky Lady, for Christina Takter, John Fielding and RAW Equine Inc.

The other two divisions were captured by Attitude Hanover (Dragon Again-Allamerican Cool, Palone, 1:55.1) over Hatsaway and Angel Ofthe West, and Billie Bluechip (Western Hanover-Molly Can Do It, Joe Pavia, Jr., 1:54.4) over Four Starz Molly and I’m Not Gonna Lie.