by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — Parked to the three-eighths, Live Laugh Love still had enough in the tank to score in a stake-fastest 1:54.2 — her third straight victory — in Saturday’s (May 12) $168,237 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows.
The event for 3-year-old filly trotters, known as the Stenographer, was contested over three divisions, with What A Knockout and Lily Stride taking the other splits. David Miller enjoyed a stake double behind Live Laugh Love and What A Knockout.
Trainer Nifty Norman took the hopples off Live Laugh Love to start her sophomore campaign, a change that triggered her current winning streak.
“She had some soreness problems and the hopples really weren’t making a difference. This year, she’s been in good shape so far,” Miller said. “Today, they weren’t going much when we were outside. I was looking for a spot to put her in a hole for a while. That’s the first time I’ve put her on front this year, and she held up real well. The fractions weren’t that strong.”
Live Laugh Love held off Nixie Volo by a head, with Courtney Hanover third. Melvin Hartman, David McDuffee and Diamond Creek Racing campaign the daughter of Donato Hanover-Shes Gone Again.
What A Knockout prepped for her PASS opener with a 1:52.4 clocking for Miller in a Meadowlands overnight, beaten only a neck.
“I was surprised she was that sharp off one qualifier,” Miller said. “That was a really good mile for a filly racing her first mile. So I felt pretty confident with her today. I thought if she came back to how she raced at the Meadowlands, she would win today. She has a lot of upside. She’s a big, strong horse, handles herself well and has a little speed. That’s all good.”
In the Stenographer, What A Knockout, a daughter of Donato Hanover-Southwind Sofia, moved first-over from third and looked in complete control, downing the rallying Piranha Fury by a half length in a career-best 1:54.4. Kenziesky Hanover shot the Lightning Lane for show. Marcus Melander trains What A Knockout for Our Horse Cents Stables and J&T Silva Stables.
Lily Stride, the richest filly in the Stenographer with earnings of $260,867 entering the stake, quarter-poled to the top for Tim Tetrick, and the 1-9 favorite had no anxious moments thereafter, prevailing in 1:55.3. Megadolce used the Lightning Lane for second, 2-3/4 lengths back, while early leader Southwind Angelica completed the ticket.
“She’s always been one of my favorites,” Tetrick said. “She’s a little bit smarter this year. Right now we’re just trying to get her in big-race mode, and she’s doing everything right. She had a few kinks that cost her a little bit last year; we’re trying to work those out. But she’s got plenty of go.”
Mark Harder conditions Lily Stride, a daughter of Muscle Hill-Sterling Volo, for Emilio Rosati and Maria Rosati.
In the $18,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, Phoenix Warrior N made it two straight, triumphing in a sharp 1:50 — a life mark — for Jim Pantaleano, trainer Scott Betts and owners Timothy Betts, Nicholas Catalano and Stephen Moss. The 8-year-old Jereme’s Jet-Never Walk Alone gelding lifted his lifetime bankroll to $271,413.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the card features an $80,000 Pa Stallion Series Stake for sophomore filly trotters. First post is 1:05 p.m.
- Butenschoen’s fillies will sport new looks in Saturday’s PASS at The Meadows (Thursday, May 10, 2018)
Top trainer John Butenschoen has an unconventional approach to rigging his 3-year-olds. Once he begins preparing them for their sophomore campaigns, he looks at the equipment cards he used for them at 2, puts the cards aside and pays no attention to them. “We start them back like yearlings that haven’t been broken,” he says. “Then if they start showing there’s something they need here or there, we add that.”
- Burke duo look to step up in Saturday’s $168,237 PASS at The Meadows (Friday, May 11, 2018)
With last year’s Dan Patch Award winner and Pennsylvania champion Manchego not entered, the field for Saturday’s (May 12) $168,237 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Meadows has the look of understudies waiting to step up to starring roles. Trainer Ron Burke thinks at least one of those 3-year-old filly trotters will rise to the occasion.