by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Denied the early lead by a stubborn I Said Diamonds, L A Delight stalked her from the pocket and blew by her in the Lightning Lane to capture Saturday’s (Aug. 27) $140,000 Nadia Lobell for 3-year-old filly pacers at The Meadows.

L A Delight scores in a lifetime best of 1:49.1 to take the $140,000 Nadia Lobell at The Meadows.

The field of five was compact but distinguished; the quintet boasted nearly $2.2 million in combined career earnings entering the Nadia Lobell. But the equation changed with the break of one of the favorites, Call Me Queen Be, at the start. With that, Jim Pantaleano hustled I Said Diamonds from the rail to the lead and would not release L A Delight and Dave Palone.

“I think Jim did the right thing,” Palone said. “When Call Me Queen Be ran, he probably thought it was a two-horse race. He wanted to make me work, and I was lucky enough to get behind him. It turned into a sprint.”

When it became just that two-horse race that Pantaleano may have envisioned, Palone wasn’t sure he’d have the stronger filly late.

“I thought Jim would have two handfuls left,” he said. “Anytime you have to head one into our passing lane when she’s not familiar with it, you’re concerned. I knew I had a handful of pace. It was just a question if I could get to him quick enough.”

L A Delight powered through the Lightning Lane and scored in 1:49.1, a career best and the fastest of the three Nadia Lobell editions hosted by The Meadows through the years. I Said Diamonds was a half-length back in second, with Yankee Moonshine third. Bob McIntosh trains the homebred daughter of Bettor’s Delight-West Of L A, who soared over $800,000 in career earnings, and who he owns with CSX Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings.

“I’ve driven a lot of good fillies, won a couple Jugettes, but this filly ranks right up there,” Palone said. “She’s so handy she makes your job easy.”

$186,672 Pennsylvania Sires Stake — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers

When trainer Ray Schnittker was en route to The Meadows for Saturday’s co-feature, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake known as the Tyler B, he contemplated the possibility of a sweep with his youngsters, Huntsville and Summer Side.

“I thought we had a shot,” Schnittker said. “We had the right driver on them.”

That driver, Tim Tetrick, transformed Schnittker’s daydream to reality when he piloted both colts to victory in their $93,336 divisions. Huntsville’s win was the more spectacular, as he triumphed in 1:50, erasing Yankee Bounty’s stakes record of 1:50.4 and the track record for freshman colt pacers of 1:50.3 held jointly by I’m Some Graduate and Fear The Dragon.

Chris Gooden photos

Huntsville established a new track and stakes record of 1:50.4 with his victory in a $93,336 division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows.

A son of Somebeachsomewhere-Wild West Show, Huntsville was away third before quarter-poling to the top. He was unthreatened thereafter, downing Boogie Shuffle by 1-3/4 lengths. Fear The Dragon, who was seeking a sweep of PaSS preliminary legs, had to settle for show in a vain effort to defend his track record. Schnittker owns Huntsville with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and Steven Arnold.

Summer Side seized the early lead but shuffled to third, was forced to come first-over. He did so powerfully, prevailing in 1:51.4. Normandy Beach was second, a neck back, while Downbytheseaside earned show.

“He’s had two straight tough trips coming first over, and he got the job done this week,” Schnittker said of the son of Well Said-Beachy Lady, a $15,000 yearling acquisition for Schnittker and co-owner Howard Taylor. “I think he’s a real horse. He’s bred great—She’s A Great Lady is his second dam. If he stays sound, he could be anything.”

Both Schnittker colts cemented spots in the $250,000 PaSS championship. Asked to compare the two, Schnittker said: “Huntsville is a foot bigger, probably has hopples six inches longer. He’s a different type of horse than Summer Side.”

In the $18,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Hawk’s Red Chief made it two straight with a gritty victory in 1:49.4, matching his personal best. Early leader Unlocked was a game second, a length back, while the first-over Dapper Dude completed the ticket.

Palone drove for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Michelle Yanek. The 5-year-old I Scoot Hanover-Fancy Trouble gelding extended his career earnings to $118,892.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday (Aug. 29), when the card features an $80,000 PA Stallion Series stake for freshman filly pacers. First post is 1 p.m. EDT.