Washington, PA – Forced to retreat early by a hot pace, Birthday blew out those hot candles late when he pounced on the tiring leaders and captured a division of Saturday’s (Sept. 17) $55,750 Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Hecandancencruise took the other division of the stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

Birthday took a lifetime mark (1:50) in winning a division of the Keystone Classic Saturday at The Meadows. Chris Gooden Photos.

Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. sent Birthday for the top from post 3 but tucked in fourth when Captain Cowboy threw down a contested :25.4 opening panel.

“I was hoping to get away a little better, ideally a trip behind one of the favorites,” Wrenn said. “Once they were rolling out of there, I had no choice but to surrender. My horse is very willing to pass late.”

Moving widest of all in the lane, Birthday edged Layton Hanover by a head in a career-best 1:50, with the first-over Code Cracker third.

Ron Burke trains Birthday for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Not only did the Sweet Lou-Breakheart Pass gelding lift his career earnings to $222,185, but he also probably punched his ticket to next week’s Little Brown Jug.

“That was what we were looking for from him, so we’ll probably send him,” Burke said. “He was better last year than at the beginning of this year, but with the equipment changes we’ve been making, he’s improved. He’s figuring it out.”

Hecandancencruise was one of driver Dave Palone’s four wins at The Meadows on Saturday in the first of two divisions of the Keystone Classic. Chris Gooden Photos.

Dave Palone pulled the pocket with Hecandancencruise down the backside and made the move pay off, edging 1-5 favorite Energetic Hanover by a neck in 1:50, a lifetime mark, with Unsung Hero third.

“Dave gave him the trip that he needed to be right there,” said Mark Harder, who trains the A Rocknroll Dance-She Can cruise gelding for Philip Steinberg and Dana Steinberg. “The horse fights; he’s okay. He’s improving and he looks after himself. Just a nice horse.”

Hecandancencruise vaulted over $100,000 in lifetime earnings but isn’t eligible for any of the rich year-end stakes. Will he return to race at 4?

“Why not?” Harder said. “A lot of people are looking to get horses like this, and we’ve got one.”

Palone and Burke each notched four wins on the 12-race card while trainer Brandon Presto and Wrenn each enjoyed a three-bagger.

The Meadows is dark next week for track maintenance. When racing resumes on Sept. 27, it will kick off the fall-winter schedule of live racing each Tuesday-Friday.