by Evan Pattak for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Showing she’s all the way back from a freakish injury, Manhattan Miss blazed home in a stake-record 1:54.4 in Friday’s (May 15) $100,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event for 3-year-old filly trotters at The Meadows.

The stake was conducted over five divisions, with Lilu Hanover, Shewontkissandtell, Love Me Madly and Speak To Me taking the other splits. Dave Palone and trainer Jimmy Takter teamed for a pair of stake victories with Lilu Hanover and Speak To Me.

Chris Gooden photo

Manhattan Miss won her PA Stallion Series division Friday at The Meadows.

Co-owners Acadia Farms and trainer Marty Wollam consigned Manhattan Miss to the Delaware sale as a yearling but withdrew her when a nasty scar from a leg gash suffered as a weanling appeared to diminish her sale value. The daughter of Broadway Hall-Sneaky Speed raced for the partners at 2, showing talent but breaking problems. They soon discovered the cause of the breaks.

Late in her sophomore campaign, her leg disgorged a sizable wood chip left over from the earlier injury.

“It took that long for the wood to work itself out,” Wollam said. “Since then, she’s been good.”

On Friday, she quarter-poled to the lead for Mike Wilder and downed Alpha Alpha by 3-3/4 lengths, with Murderers Row third. Her time erased the mark of 1:55.2 set last year by Broadway Socks.

“We’ll race next here in an overnight. Then we may try her in a sires stake,” Wollam said. “I wanted to, but my partner didn’t. He was right. It worked out well.”

Lilu Hanover withstood a serious backside challenge from Big Barb and scored in 1:55.4, 1-1/2 lengths better than Global Ice. Big Barb saved show.

“She actually welcomed the horse when the horse came to her,” Palone said. “She picked me up. I drove her last year and liked her, and she’s only become bigger and stronger. She should have a great season.”

Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld campaign the daughter of Andover Hall-Lady Luck Hanover, who pushed her career bankroll to $133,455.

Shewontkissandtell produced the stake’s tote board fireworks when, trailing by 4-1/2 lengths at the top of the stretch and seemingly blocked by a pair of horses, she poured through a gift opening in the Lightning Lane and prevailed in 1:59.2, at 14-1, for Brian Zendt. KB’s Big Gainer was second, 2-1/2 lengths back, while Sand C-Four earned show.

“Someone ran in the last turn, and I thought I would get some room,” Zendt said. “Then two horses moved outside, and I thought I was better off just staying left. Man, I didn’t have to worry about her having enough trot. A little luck helps.”

Lisa Dunn-Adams conditions the homebred daughter of Glidemaster-Caviar And Kisses for Dunn Stable.

In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace, the always-tough Do Me Honor was at it again, coming first-over to triumph for Aaron Merriman and owner/trainer Bill Bercury in 1:52.4. Bad Glamour Girl split horses late for second, 1/2 length behind, while Miss Pinky Pie completed the ticket. The 7-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Rei-Do Me Right now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $584.198.

Saturday’s special Preakness Day card at The Meadows features four divisions of The Stenographer, a $193,264 PA Sires Stake for 3-year-old filly trotters. First post is 11:25 a.m.