by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Meadow Lands, PA — Mypanmar, who vaulted from the garden spot to score in a Pennsylvania Sires Stake last month, showed that he needed little help from a trip Saturday night, going wire-to-wire in the fastest division of the $81,600 Keystone Classic for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Meadows. The stake drew a record 32 starters over four divisions.
Mypanmar scored in 1:53. Other divisional winners — all on a track listed “good” — were Western Hot Shot, Dixie Pride and O Narutac Pat.
John “Duke” Sugg, who drove Mypanmar for his father, trainer Ivan Sugg, and Peter Pan Stables, gunned the son of The Panderosa to the lead from post position five.
“He was strong and he was the favorite, so I thought I’d get him on the front and let them beat me,” Sugg said.
Great Plains finished second by one and a half lengths, with Basil Hanover in third.
Mypanmar, who missed his entire freshman year with a broken pastern, has now won four of six career starts — and he may be improving still.
“He acted real strong early (this year), and then he kind of tailed off a little bit,” Sugg said. “He threw in a bad race at Windsor. He might be coming back to himself. He might have been a little bit under the weather.”
Sugg said Mypanmar will be pointed to the Meadowlands Pace.
Western Hot Shot, with just one win in 13 career starts prior to the Keystone Classic, used a perfect pocket trip for Ray Paver behind the pace-setting Gunsmoke Spur to fashion his victory in 1:532. Boo Yah closed from last at the half to be second by a length, with Advanced Art in third.
Arlene and Jules Siegel own Western Hot Shot, a son of Western Hanover trained by Jim Campbell.
“He has a lot of talent but sometimes isn’t willing to give his all,” said Travis Alexander, second trainer for Campbell. “He’s not the bravest horse. He trains like a monster, but he’s not very willing. He needs a trip, and tonight he got his trip.”
Alexander said Western Hot Shot is eligible for such late-season events as the Little Brown Jug, the Messenger and the Adios.
Dixie Pride, a son of Real Artist who was accustomed to racing from behind, found a turn of early speed in the Windshield Wiper series at Freehold, where he finished third in the final. He deployed that quickness on Saturday to get away second behind Real Rusty.
“I saw where he could leave in :264 on a half-mile track, so I rolled him tonight, let the favorite go and got a good trip,” said trainer-driver Joe Offutt.
When Offutt tipped out for the drive, Dixie Pride drew off to a one and three-quarter length victory in 1:543. Hop Sing brushed late for second, while Real Rusty faded to third.
Offutt, who co-owns Dixie Pride with George Aide, bred the colt out of his mare Tarport Dixie.
“She made more than $200,000,” Offutt said, “and this colt is just like her — smart. I’ve had some trouble getting him to relax, but he was more relaxed in the final at Freehold.”
O Narutac Pat got a comfortable first half on the lead in :572, and driver Brian Zendt was able to sprint home with the son of Arturo in 1:534, holding off the late surge of You Rock by a half length. Mauro Hanover finished third.
What made the stretch duel even spicier was that You Rock was driving under Bill Zendt, Brian’s father. Brian said it might have been the first time he and his father dueled for a stake win.
“I knew his horse was almost good enough to beat me, and we were both driving hard,” Brian Zendt said. “What goes through my mind when he and I are battling? Nothing, really, except wanting to win.”
Mark Harder trains O Narutac Pat for Cataway Racing Stable, Clifford Patrick and Pat Caturano (O Narutac spelled backwards).
Meadows-based horses on the stake trail enjoyed a stellar day of racing on Saturday, led by the victory of Randy Bendis-trained Georgia Pacific, a three-year-old gelding, in a C$100,000 division of the Burlington at Mohawk. Brian Sears was the winning driver.
Meanwhile, at Pocono Downs, Artbitration, trained by Norm Parker with Pat Berry aboard, and West Coast Arturo, trained and co-owned by Dan Altmeyer, captured the two eliminations for the James M. Lynch Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers and return for next week’s final. Mike Simons drove West Coast Arturo.