by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Youaremycandygirl, the 2017 Dan Patch Award winner for freshman pacing fillies, has been fine at three but not as dominant as she was last year. Trainer Ron Burke thought her problem might lie in post parades.

Chris Godden photo

Youaremycandygirl returns to the winner’s circle at The Meadows.

“Sometimes she goes on ‘tilt,’” Burke said, “And she wants to fight you the whole way.”

Thus, in Saturday’s $121,000 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo at The Meadows, Burke experimented, leaving Youaremycandygirl in the hands of the marshal while the other fillies were parading. The strategy worked like a charm, as Youaremycandygirl jogged to a facile 1:50.4 victory in the Adioo Volo.

A Grand Circuit stake featured on the Adios Day card, the Adioo Volo was contested over three divisions, with Alexa’s Power and Sidewalk Dancer taking the other splits.

Youaremycandygirl, a daughter of American Ideal-Sweet Lady Jane who has earned $1,065,508 for owner William Donovan, got away third for Yannick Gingras before roaring to the point near the half. She downed the first-over Baron Remy by 4-1/4 lengths, with early leader Serene Stride third.

“She was a great horse last year — she still is,” Gingras said. “Things haven’t really gone our way a lot of times so far this year, but she’s a sweetheart of a filly.”

Shuffled to third at the top of the stretch, Alexa’s Power — the 4-5 favorite — shot the Lightning Lane for Tim Tetrick and triumphed in a career-best 1:52, a head better than Reign On Me. I’m Trigger Happy completed the ticket.

Jim Campbell conditions the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Michelle’s Power, who lifted her lifetime bankroll to $281,490, for Jeffrey Snyder and Michael Snyder.

Sidewalk Dancer, who took nearly a month off following a disappointing performance in the Lynch final, made a first-over move for Brett Miller look easy, scoring in 1:52.1. Painted Lady was second, beaten a length, with Strong Opinion third.

“Going into the Lynch, I thought we could win, and the trip was working out for us,” Miller said. “When I called on her, she didn’t fire. They scoped her after the race, and she was severely sick that night. So she definitely had an excuse. She can go with the top fillies. She can race on the front, but she loves passing horses.”

Chris Oakes trains Sidewalk Dancer, a daughter of A Rocknroll Dance-Road Sign who now boasts $182,779 in career earnings, for Northfork Racing, Omar Beiler and Dennis Coons.