by Jerry Connors, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Nobody has yet been able to successfully fight I Fought Dalaw, as the son of Western Ideal equaled the track and season’s record of 1:52 in one of six $20,000 divisions of the Arden Downs Pace for baby colts and geldings on Saturday (July 30) at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden photo

I Fought Dalaw was a 1:52 winner for David Miller in an Arden Downs split for freshman pacing males.

The victory allowed I Fought Dalaw to remain undefeated in four lifetime starts. Already the fastest 2-year-old overall in 2011 after his 1:50.4 win in the NJSS, I Fought Dalaw was moved to command near the half by driver David Miller, then stormed home in :27.2 to remain unblemished for trainer Sam DePinto and owners Shannon DePinto, Mike Parisi, and Jerry Silva.

The “hometown colt,” Sweet Lou, is also undefeated in four starts, and also has a share of The Meadows’ 1:52 track record for his division, after using a :26.4 kicker to withstand a determined Pet Rock in a later Arden Downs cut. The son of Yankee Cruiser, who also posted a personal best, is conditioned by locally-based national star Ron Burke, and the frequent combine of the Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi here co-owns the talented youngster with the partnership of Karr and Collura.

Ideal Ike made a second move to command at the five-eighths, then repulsed a determined late bid by A Rocknroll Dance to take the first Arden Downs division in 1:53.1, a personal mark. Also a son of Western Ideal, the winner was driven by Andy Miller for trainer Matt Cox and owner-breeder D R Van Witzenburg and his ownership partner George Golemes.

Sire Western Ideal picked up a third siring credit in the Arden Downs when Ideal Champ broke his maiden in fine 1:52.3 style. Joe Holloway handles conditioning duties for the Val D’Or Farms, with Dave Palone expertly handling sulky duties.

The McArdle gelding McAttaboy continued his development while moving his record to four for five with a 1:54 grinding victory in another Arden Downs cut. Sam Beegle, president of the PHHA, “went west” and got all the money for his Ginger Tree Stable, Neil Chesen, and Wayne Hurtubise.

Easy Again surely raised some blood pressures when he broke at 1-10 in the final Arden Downs race, but after he caught he produced devastating speed to circle the field from last en route to a 1:53.4 (last quarter :27.1) victory. The Dragon Again colt was handled by Montrell Teague for father George Jr., co-owner with the Kovach Stables LLC and Ted Gewertz.

Trick Man, blocked with pace in last year’s Adios at 59-1 while losing by only 1-1/4 lengths, shot six-wide in the stretch at 60-1 and just caught a tenacious Foiled Again in another blanket finish to take one of four $50,000 Open events for older horses, PA-preferred. Ray Paver, Jr. trains and drove the son of Mantacular to a 1:49.3 new track record for 4-year-old pacing horses for owner-breeder Ronald Brechler.

Local track record holder Sir Caviar was in control throughout the Open Trot, passing the wire in 1:54 for driver Brian Zendt. The 5-year-old gelding is trained by Leslie Dunn Zendt in conjunction with Bill Zendt — a literal marriage of two of the royal families of western Pennsylvania harness racing.

Didrickson, at one point sixth over in the F&M Open Pace, relentlessly ground forward and just caught Jan’s Luck in the shadow of the wire, taking a new mark of 1:52. The Keystone Raider mare posted seasonal triumph number 10 and ran her career bankroll over $200,000 for co-breeder/owner Kelly Goodwin and trainer Paul Kennedy.

Driver Brett Miller then completed a back-to-back sweep of the distaff Opens when a backstretch brush with Mystical Starlight moved her past her trotting foes en route to a lifetime speed badge of 1:53.4. A Credit Winner mare out of the Ross Croghan stable, Mystical Starlight is owned by Glen Hobin.