by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — An unfavorable post position forced Dennis to modify his preferred strategy, but he adapted nicely and went on to a decisive win in the $66,819 Arden Downs Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings in Grand Circuit action on Thursday (August 7) at The Meadows.

Dennis had captured eight of 18 career starts coming into the stake, known as the James Manderino, most of them at or near the front. In fact, he hadn’t been worse than second at the quarter pole in any of his five most recent starts.

Leaving from the eight hole on Thursday, he obliged driver Mike Simons by taking back a bit and dropping to the pylons in third. He didn’t stay there long. When Simons sent him on a quarter-pole move, the son of Lindy Lane-Betty Jean responded with his customary enthusiasm. He won in 1:56, two lengths better than Foggy Lane K, with The Budster a closing third.

“I was a little concerned,” said Roland Mallar, who trains Dennis for Bob Slowey, Anthony Minute and Dennis Osterholt, the horse’s namesake. “Mike had to use him pretty good to get to the front, and it was into the wind. But he’s a gamer. He hangs in there.”

Mallar said he plans to give Dennis about 10 days off prior to the championship leg of the Pennsylvania Sires Stake.

$67,998 Ned McCarr Arden Downs 3-year-old filly trot

Grand Circuit action also included two divisions of the Ned McCarr, the Arden Downs trot for 3-year-old fillies. Classic Lane and Hawaiianphotograph were expected to dominate their respective divisions and did not disappoint; each won handily for Dave Palone. They were among Palone’s seven victories on the 16-race card.

Palone allowed Classic Lane to float to the lead. Once she got there, she was all business, cruising to a nine length victory in 1:57.1. Kalibrated edged Kim’s Big Crown for place money. It was another step forward in the remarkable improvement of the daughter of Lindy Lane-Heartland Classic, who failed to take a race mark at 2.

“She had growth problems last year, a little soreness in the knees,” said her trainer, Peter Foley. “She needed time to mature. She’s been a pleasant surprise. She’s not an easy filly on herself. The key to her was switching her to flip-flops. That’s kept her sound because she lands right out there on the heel.”

Hatfield Stables owns Classic Lane, who will be pointed to the remaining PA Sires Stake legs.

Hawaiianphotograph made it five consecutive victories — all in stakes — by scoring in 1:57.3, 1-3/4 lengths better than Custom Model. Olivia’s Jewel recovered from an early break to finish third.

“She had a nice, easy mile, didn’t she?” said Bill Zendt, who trains the homebred daughter of S J’s Photo-Hawaiian Rose for Shanamphilaniklou Inc. “You had only one horse in there that wanted to challenge her, and that one followed her. So there was no battle.”

In addition to the remaining PA Sires Stakes legs, Zendt said he may try the filly in the Kentucky Futurity.

In the $23,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, Green Dot equaled his fastest victory this year by scoring in 1:55 for driver Tony Hall, trainer Steve Bush and Have A Dream Stable. Cosmic Man, at better than 53-1 was second, with 28-1 Hoopie completing the surprise package.