McWicked sets stakes record in PASS at The Meadows
August 29, 2014,by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows
Washington, PA — Trailing by five lengths at the three-quarters and with his cover stalling, Adios champion McWicked showed his speed and determination Friday (Aug. 29) at The Meadows when he roared wide down the lane to score in a stakes record 1:48.3 in a $199,980 Pennsylvania Sires Stake.
Sometimes Said captured the other division of the event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers known as the Tarport Effrat, giving David Miller a sweep.
McWicked saw his five-race winning streak snapped in the Carl Milstein, and it appeared certain that his losing skein would grow when he was third over and treading water. But Somewhere In L A had taken the field through a hot three-quarters in 1:20.4, a wicked pace that gave Miller confidence.
“They were going pretty hard there, but I did start getting worried in the last turn when they stalled out,” Miller said. “But the leader wasn’t getting away, and I was within range enough to catch him. I was happy with him. He got beat on the front last week, so I wanted to change it up. He doesn’t have to be on the lead to win.”
The son of McArdle-Western Sahara had just enough track to down the game Somewhere In L A by a nose, with the pocket-sitting Limelight Beach third.
Casie Coleman trains McWicked, who boosted his career bankroll to $957,883, for S S G Stables. The time shattered the previous stakes mark of 1:49.2 shared by Big Bad John and Resistance Futile.
Coleman previously indicated that McWicked will be pointed to the PASS championship and the Little Brown Jug. With the victory, McWicked became only the third Adios winner to score in the Tarport Effrat, joining Armbro Ranger (1976) and May June Character (2007).
Fashion Farms’ Sometimes Said entered the Tarport Effrat on a two-race winning streak, and he had little trouble extending that streak, following the first-over cover of Let’s Drink On It and prevailing in 1:50. Somesizesomestyle rallied for second, a half-length back, while Let’s Drink On It saved show.
“I was impressed with him,” said Miller, who was piloting Sometimes Said for the first time. “He raced as good as I expected him to.”
Jim Campbell conditions Sometimes Said, who soared over $400,000 in lifetime earnings.
In the $18,000 Preferred Handicap Pace, converted claimer Colby Jate shot the Lightning Lane to triumph in 1:50.3 and notch his fourth straight victory. Aaron Merriman drove the 7-year-old Jate Lobell-Cam Press Shania gelding for trainer Mike Watson and owner Friendship Stables.
Tony Hall drove four winners and Dave Palone three on the 15-race card.
Following a brief holiday hiatus, live racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday, with first post at 12:55 p.m.