by Evan Pattak for The Meadows

MEADOW LANDS, PA, Aug. 17, 2006 — Gyration Hanover needed an extended first-over move, but it carried her to a stake record in the $89,185 Meadow Bright, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday night at The Meadows. The victory gave Dave Palone his 400th stakes win at The Meadows, far and away the best mark among drivers.

The stake was contested over three divisions, with Hidden Viggorish and Tori Ann taking the other splits.

Gyration Hanover was sent off the 1-5 favorite, and when Palone tipped her off the pylons from third nearing the half, it appeared to be a routine move to the front and easy victory. Early leader Keystone Bianca and Wade Ross, however, had other ideas, keeping the daughter of SJ’s Caviar parked.

“I wanted to let her get settled and move her back to the front,” Palone said. “That’s why I’m getting gray hair — it was tougher than I thought getting to the front. But I was never concerned that she wouldn’t win. The way she did it, that was a very good mile.”

Once Gyration Hanover achieved the lead, she drew off to win by 8 lengths in 1:55:2 over the late-trotting Swept To Victory, with Window Shopping finishing third. The time bettered the stake mark of 1:55.4 established by Win B and Robert Blanton, Jr. in 2004 and was only two ticks off the track record for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Rick Zeron trains Gyration Hanover for Rojan Stables and Rick Zeron Stables.

Hidden Viggorish, a fast but headstrong daughter of SJ’s Caviar, appeared more tractable for trainer/driver Bill Zendt, scoring her fifth straight win and seventh in nine lifetime starts with a wire-to-wire score in 1:56, a career best. Zendt had an opportunity to yield early to Clareen but forced that filly to drop into the pocket instead, wary of his charge’s prospective reaction to being passed.

“She was good tonight,” Zendt said. “We had her out in the field all night. That helps a lot.”

Clareen was second by 1-3/4 lengths, while Lady Caviar finished well back in third. Harmony Springs Stable owns Hidden Viggorish, a lightly staked filly who has little remaining on her card but the PA Sires Stake Championship.

Zendt said the owners may supplement her to stakes this year and plan to race her at 4.

Tori Ann might just as well be called “Torrid Ann” — she’s won three straight races by a combined 12 lengths.

“About the last month, she’s come around,” said Dave Rankin, who trains the home-bred daughter of SJ’s Photo for Richard and Joyce McClelland. “I was turning her out a lot because she’s a little hyper. I think with the hot weather, she lost some punch. So we quit turning her out, and here she comes.”

In the Meadow Bright, Rodney Bolon piloted Tori Ann through the “Lightning Lane” and a 1-1/2-length victory over Bye Bye Kerry, with Kosmopoliton finishing third. Tori Ann is eligible for such stakes as the Hanover and the Buckette.