Washington, PA –  When Lou’s Sassin surged late to capture a $63,750 Keystone Classic for freshman colt and gelding pacers Wednesday (Sept.15) at The Meadows, it was more than another step forward in the ongoing improvement of the Sweet Lou-Sassa Hanover gelding.

Aaron Merriman wins today with Phannys Matter in Keystone Classic action. Chris Gooden photo. 

First, it topped a 1-2-3 sweep in the event for trainer Ron Burke.

Perhaps more importantly, it lifted winning driver Dave Palone above $150 million in career purses.

“It’s cool for a lot of reasons,” Palone said. “The horse is by my favorite horse on the planet. He’s owned by the Burkes and Weaver-Bruscemi, my biggest supporters throughout my career. And my future son-in-law Sage was in the paddock taking care of him. So it was an awesome, awesome win.”

Lou’s Sassin won his last start in 1:51.2, but in the Keystone Classic, he trailed stablemate Birthday by 2 lengths in the stretch. Palone was confident he could get by.

“Ronnie’s spot on about most of his horses, and he said this guy warmed up great and is starting to figure it out,” he said. “At the sixteenth pole, my horse still had gas.”

Lous Sassin downed Birthday by a head, with Good Deal third. Panhellenic Stable also participates on the winner’s ownership team.

$68,100 Keystone Classic — 2-Year-Old Filly Trot

Dreamonhigh is the fastest 2-year-old trotter ever at The Meadows and the Pennsylvania champion to boot, but she has been unruly at times behind the gate. That made driver Ronnie Wrenn’s mission in the Keystone Classic clear.

“I kind of let her do what she wanted to do,” Wrenn said. “I sat in the two path through the first turn and let her get comfortable. She’s plenty fast, and she definitely laid over the field. She got really comfortable, and I wasn’t worried at all about her running.”

Dreamonhigh got away third but was out before the quarter to grab the lead. The daughter of Andover Hall-RC’s Dream cruised to the expected victory by 7-1/2 lengths in 1:55.4, with Miss Principle and Woman of Power completing the ticket. Jennifer Bongiorno conditions Dreamonhigh for KAT Stables.

In the stake’s other division, the chart will tell you that Phannys Matter scored a front-end victory in a career-best 1:58, but it won’t reveal that winning driver Aaron Merriman reluctantly held the point only because 2-5 favorite Gumdrop Hanover broke while trying for the lead.

“Heavens no, I didn’t want the lead,” Merriman said. “I was hoping Mike (Wilder, with Gumdrop Hanover) would keep going. But my horse is well traveled, been to the fairs, so I knew she would be okay.”

Gumdrop Hanover recovered and threatened Phannys Matter late, but the daughter of Explosive Matter-Phanny’s Photo held firm to defeat her by a length for trainer Linda Schadel, who owns the homebred with Tony Schadel. Gingerzzz earned show.

Wilder and Palone each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday when the program features a pair of Keystone Classics for 3-year-olds: a $58,150 stake for filly pacers and a $63,550 event for colt and gelding trotters. First post is 12:45 p.m.