Washington, PA – Hollywood Casino at The Meadows welcomed the start of 2-year-old Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action with two $56,000 Meadow Gladys Sire Stakes divisions, accompanied by three Stallion Series divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies.
In the first division of the Meadow Gladys Sire Stakes, Miss Eliza and driver Mike Wilder avoided the quick early fractions of :27.4 and :57.1, opting to race from mid-pack while waiting for cover to develop. That cover came just past the half in the form of Orinoco and Yannick Gingras, which Wilder followed to the middle of the final turn. Miss Eliza and Orinoco battled the length of the stretch before Miss Eliza’s :28.4 final quarter carried her to a two-and-a-half-length victory in 1:55.3. The 2-year-old daughter of Captain Corey out of the mare Miss Wilia is owned by Bart and Todd Brice and trained by Norm Parker.
Despite not seeing the pylons in her division, Birr Castle still found her way to the winner’s circle following a 1:55.3 performance. Driver Dexter Dunn was unable to find a comfortable spot for Birr Castle until the quarter, but after just a few strides was forced back to the outside by the developing flow. Following an opening half in :58.4, Dunn used the cover of Lafortune before tipping three-wide at the three-quarters and quickly engaging the front-running The Captain’s Wife. Unfazed by the overland journey, Birr Castle trotted home in :28 flat for a one-length victory in 1:55.3. The daughter of Captain Corey is trained by Marcus Melander for breeder and owner Pheasant Hill Farms of New Jersey.
The three Stallion Series divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies shared one common denominator—Dexter Dunn. In the first and fastest Stallion Series division, Dunn moved an anxious Crucio from fourth to first before the half on the way to a stakes-record 1:56.4 victory. The daughter of Greenshoe out of The Ice Dutchess is trained and owned by Marcus Melander.
The Dunn-Melander combination struck again in similar fashion with Don’t Stop Hanover in the second Stallion Series division, posting a 1:59 victory. A slow second quarter prompted Dunn to move the Greenshoe filly to the lead, and she cruised to a wrapped-up two-length win for owners Frederick Schwartz, Onde Racing LLC, and Richard Ponti.
Sitting third through a pedestrian three-quarters in 1:30.4, Dunn moved Honky Tonk Baby to the outside, avoided confusion in the stretch, and the Julie Miller trainee trotted home in :28.4 to capture the third Stallion Series division. Willow Oak Racing LLC of Tennessee bred and owns the daughter of Greenshoe.
For the day, Dexter Dunn earned driving honors with four victories, while Marcus Melander’s three training wins gave him training honors.
Captain Corey sired both Meadow Gladys Sire Stakes winners, while Greenshoe sired all three Stallion Series winners.
Racing resumes Thursday, July 2, at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows with a 13-race card. First post is 12:45 p.m.