by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — As one of Manhattan’s signature pubs, PJ Clarke’s swings after dark. But the equine P J Clark showed a penchant for daytime action on Thursday (July 24) at The Meadows when he captured one of eight divisions of a $244,752 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for freshman trotting colts and geldings.

P J Clark and Trond Smedshammer were 1:59.1 winners in their PASS division.

It was the career pari-mutuel debut for P J Clark after two baby races at the Meadowlands. Compounding the situation was his trip — he was parked out for more than a quarter of a mile before clearing to the front. But the son of Broadway Hall-Add A Lil Bourbon widened his lead late, downing NF Quotable by three lengths in 1:59.1. Pine Hill Bling was third.

“He’s been pretty solid all along,” said trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer. “He doesn’t make too many mistakes. He’s good mannered and kind of quick, although he didn’t show it today. I don’t like to do anything fancy with them the first start. He went nice, easy fractions. I never had to pull the earplugs.”

Brittany Farms, Little E LLC and Dynasty Stable own P J Clark.

To say that Shibboleth Hanover was a bargain at auction would be an understatement, as trainer Clarence Martin, Jr. picked him up for a modest $3,200.

“He was small, a first foal, and he went early in the auction at Harrisburg,” Martin said. “But he videoed real well — he just bounced when he was going across the field. I thought he might be the best trotter I was training this winter, but I didn’t want to say too much.”

Despite three consecutive off-the-board finishes to begin his career, Shibboleth Hanover raced like a seasoned veteran in the Hickory Pride, following cover for Doug Snyder to nip a game Keystone Activator by a nose in 1:59.1, with Garcon well back in third.

Mary Martin and Maple Ridge Stable own Shibboleth Hanover, a son of SJ’s Caviar-SOS Fire Fly.

Chris Gooden photos

Our Rail Fantasy was a 1:59.2 winner for William Irvine.

Our Rail Fantasy demonstrated a fondness for the lead in his three previous starts, but in the Hickory Pride, trainer/driver William Irvine ducked him, then made the decisive move first over. Our Rail Fantasy scored in 1:59.2, 5-1/2 lengths better than Rustypalooza. Technicalybroadway finished third.

“This is the first time he’s been covered up, really,” Irvine said. “He leaves the gate well. But I thought he was the best today, especially when the favorite made a break.”

Whip Or Wheel Stables bred and owns Our Rail Fantasy, a son of Beat The Wheel-Fantasy Hanover.

The stake, known as the Hickory Pride, saw Earl H (Tagliabue-Hail To The Crown), KT Dixie Player (Sierra Kosmos-KT Troublein Dixie), Y-Dat (Broadway Hall-Tady), Knoxtrot Hall (Broadway Hall-Knox Trot) and Triumphant Caviar (SJ’s Caviar-ENS Tag Session) take the other splits. Dave Palone scored a driving double in the stake with Knoxtrot Hanover and Triumphant Caviar.

Also featured on the card was the third leg of the Watson Provost pacing series for freshman colts and geldings. Ray’s Western (Western Hanover-Yankee Goddess) won the fastest division in 1:56.1. Promiscuous (Red River Hanover-She Has Passion) and D I Hanover (Western Hanover-Cheers Lauxmont) also captured $8,000 splits.