by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Pasta Lavista, a $140,000 yearling purchase who alarmed her connections when she contracted a virus, rebounded with authority on Thursday night (August 2) at The Meadows, capturing the fastest division of a $131,680 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for freshman pacing fillies in 1:54.3.

The stake, known as the Meadow Cheer, was contested over eight divisions. The other splits went to Makerbark, Native Smile, Chester County, Rusty Again, Up Front Bethann, Lady Annie and Ms Mae West. Doug Snyder and Randy Tharps scored driving doubles in the stake.

Pasta Lavista won the first two races of her career but fell ill on July 16 and was scratched from the Keystone Classic.

Chris Gooden photo

Pasta Lavista was a 1:54.3 winner for Randy Tharps.

“In the morning she was tearing up the stall and feeling good,” said Bruce Riegle, who trains the daughter of Western Hanover for White Creek Stable. “We got ready to take her to detention and she was laying down. I knew something was wrong. Her temperature never went over 102, but it kept going up and down, and she had thick discharges. She stayed in her stall a full week.”

She showed no ill effects in the Sires Stake, powering to the lead and holding off an early challenge from Graceful Art, who finished second but was placed back to third for interference with Evaji Hanover, who was promoted to second. Riegle said the strong showing convinced him that the filly can stick to her planned schedule of about 12 races.

“I thought she might be a little short, but she showed that she’s class,” Riegle said.

Makerbark, a daughter of Dragon Again, cost $137,100 less than Pasta Lavista as a yearling, but she won her third stake of the year with a sustained uncovered bid. She scored in 1:56.1 by three-quarters of a length over Riven Hanover, with Jackie’s Gem third. A key to her victory — she stayed flat after breaking stride in two consecutive races.

“You can’t give her her head in the turns,” said Todd Schadel, who drove for owner/trainer Roger Hammer. “You have to watch her. A lot of it is greenness. I pulled her a little early so I wouldn’t have horses on my back if she did something stupid.”

Native Smile was buried in fifth place along the pylons at the top of the lane and presumably racing for a minor award. But with Mike Wilder guiding her through narrow openings, she split a pair of horses, then another, weaving her way to an improbable nose win in 1:54.4 over Ty’s Artist. Clandestine was third.

“It just kind of opened up,” Wilder said. “A couple tired horses were bearing out. She had a rough trip at Rosecroft last time out, so I wanted to be conservative with her, just sit at the rail and whatever happens, happens. In time, she’ll be able to do it any way you want. But tonight, the trip went exactly as I wanted. Win, lose or draw, I had to have her pacing on the end of it — and was she ever pacing.”

Dan Altmeyer trains the daughter of Allamerican Native for Joann and Joe Thomson.

For more information on the PA Sires Stakes program, visit www.standardbredbreederspa.org.