by M. Kelly Young, Executive Assistant, Harness Horse Breeders of New York

Latham, NY — With the Berry’s Creek in his sights, pacing colt Pat’s All Star became one of the first New York Sires Stake stars to return to the track as a three-year-old when he won his qualifying start at the Meadowlands on Saturday, April 9.

“I though he was maybe a little short, but he qualified well after coming off of Goshen,” said trainer Ray Allen, referring to his stable base at Historic Track. “It’s hard to get them to sprint like they need to at the Meadowlands their first start.”

Directed by Ray Schnittker, the colt darted out for the early lead from post six in :27.1 and held on for victory in 1:55.3. Owner Pat Tarsio and his sons, Pat Jr. and Anthony, traveled to the Meadowlands to watch the qualifier.

Last year the Village Jove homebred became the pride of Tarsio’s stable by winning all four of his Sires Stake starts and finishing second to Dear Old Boy in the final. He also scored in a division of the Reynolds and the Landmark Stakes for an 8-6-2-0 season and $132,413 in earnings.

Allen plans to qualify Pat’s All Star two more times at the Meadowlands and then the colt is scheduled for the Berry’s Creek eliminations there on April 30. That will be the colt’s first encounter with the top horses of his division and his connections will be testing the waters for future stakes starts.

“I don’t think he’ll embarrass us,” said Allen of the tougher competition. “He’s bigger and stronger this year than he was as a two-year-old.”

Pat’s All Star is also staked to the Meadowlands Pace and Matron. His New York Sires Stake season will begin on June 18 at Buffalo Raceway.

Also on Saturday at the Meadowlands, the Credit Winner colt Cromwell was second in his qualifier, timed in 1:59.2. Dan Dube drove the three-year-old trotter for trainer Carl Gillespie and owners Carolyn and Irving Atherton.

As a freshman, Cromwell was sharp in winning one New York Sires Stake leg and finishing second in another, and also won the New York-bred Late Closer final.