Fast Reaction breaks maiden in Meadows Stallion Series
July 2, 2018,by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — Looked in the eye by a serious challenger at the top of the lane, Fast Reaction found another gear and scored at first asking in a stakes-fastest 1:58.1 in Monday’s (July 2) $80,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event at The Meadows.
The stakes for freshman trotting fillies was contested over four $20,000 divisions, with Ridinonarainbow, Averie Hanover and Southwind Storm taking the other splits.
Chris Gooden photo
Fast Reaction (foreground) rolled to a 1:58.1 win in Monday’s Pennsylvania Stallion Series event at The Meadows.
Fast Reaction had brushed past Wildfire Seelster down the backside, but that rival regained momentum out of the final turn and looked like the winner. That’s when Fast Reaction dug in and downed her by 1-1/2 lengths, with Giant Possession well back in third.
“She’s pretty versatile,” said trainer-driver Rick Beinhauer, who owns the homebred daughter of Muscle Massive-T’s Fast Forward with Regina Beinhauer. “She can sit in a hole, but she also has a lot of quick speed. She’s nice in the barn, good-gaited. We’ll see how the Sire Stakes fillies do and decide what we’re doing from there.”
Ridinonarainbow, who won a Pennyslvania Fair Stakes at Hughesville in her career debut, extended her unbeaten streak with a facile front-end victory in 1:59.2 for trainer-driver Todd Schadel, who campaigns the homebred daughter of Muscle Massive-Cantab Cabela with Christine Schadel. The pocket-sitting Madam Donato was second, three-quarters of a length back, while Tough Tootsie completed the ticket.
“She’s kind of handy and minds her manners. She’s not bad,” Todd Schadel said. “What kind of upside does she have? I have no clue. We’ll go to the York (Pa.) fair with her next week.”
Chris Gooden photo
Averie Hanover posted a 35-1 upset in her Stallion Series division for 2-year-old trotting fillies.
Averie Hanover provided the stake’s tote board fireworks, triumphing at 35-1 in her career debut and remaining calm despite breaks by trotters beside her and ahead of her. Those were a source of considerable concern to trainer-driver Aaron Johnston.
“She usually likes to follow and do stuff that other horses are doing,” Johnston said. “I was impressed that she minded her manners. I think she can continue in these races. I expected her to trot every bit of 2:00 today, so I think she should be very competitive in the stallion series.”
Richard Hess owns the daughter of Detour Hanover-Allamerican Phoebe, a $9,000 yearling acquisition, who prevailed in 2:02.4. Meserati was second, beaten 1-1/4 lengths, with Shiraz third.
In the $20,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, Wind Of The North made it two straight in the Lightning Lane for Aaron Merriman and owner-trainer Bill Bercury when he surged late to nip a pair of half-brothers in Classicality and Trustworthy Kid in 1:53.3. The 8-year-old Cantab Hall-Talk To The Wind gelding now boasts career earnings of $934,848.
Dave Palone and Merriman each collected three wins on the 13-race card.
Stakes racing at The Meadows continues Tuesday (July 3) with the Meadow Gladys, a $190,235 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event for 2-year-old trotting fillies. First post is 1:05 p.m.