by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Rembrandt Spur made a decisive quarter-pole move to the front, then cruised on top to capture the $119,679 final of the Currier & Ives for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Monday (June 29) at The Meadows.

Rembrandt Spur was a 1:54.3 winner in the Currier & Ives.

Rembrandt Spur has done his best racing on the lead, so when he got away third behind early leader Rompaway Beau, trainer/driver Dick Stillings didn’t sit in with him for long.

“The outside horse got to the front pretty easy, but I figured he’d probably want to follow one of the horses to beat,” said Stillings, whose only previous victory in a Currier & Ives final at The Meadows was in 1992 with Sirocco Spur. “He let me go, and we got a pretty easy half. That second quarter was really nice.”

Once Rembrandt Spur got the front half in :58, the gelded son of Pegasus Spur-Marty E kicked into high gear, easily thwarting the first-over bid of Salutation Hanover, who could provide only faltering cover for the would-be closers.

Although Rembrandt Spur faced no serious challenge, Stillings said he was obliged to keep after his charge.

“You have to chase him,” Stillings said. “I have ears on him and a hood, and I didn’t want to fall asleep going for $120,000.”

Rembrandt Spur scored in 1:54.3, two ticks off the stakes record established by Vivid Photo in 2005, and the fastest mile this year by a sophomore gelding trotter on a five-eighths-mile track. Triumphant Caviar was 3-1/4 lengths back in second, with Keystone Activator third.

Roy Davis owns Rembrandt Spur, who won for the sixth time in nine 2009 starts and seems to have overcome the foot problems that caused occasional beaks. Not so Stillings, who limped noticeably on a gimpy right ankle injured in a training accident about a month ago.

“I started working on my tendon now, and I’m starting to feel better,” Stillings said. “Before that I was getting worse and worse. But now I’m doctoring it myself. Doesn’t bother me when I drive, though. Just when I walk or fish.”

Cassis takes fastest PASS split

Performing with a patience that belied his status as a first-time starter, Cassis saved his best move for last and took the fastest division of a $264,530 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

The event, known as the Hickory Pride, was contested over five divisions, with Upandover Hanover, RT Picaadilly, Freedom Ridge and Hard Livin winning the other splits.

Chris Gooden photos

Cassis was a 1:59.3 winner for trainer/driver Ray Schnittker.

Cassis got away cleanly from the rail and saved ground past the three-quarter pole. It was only when Baximum wrestled the lead from Asabi Hanover that trainer/driver Ray Schnittker asked Cassis for trot.

“He’s like a little professional racehorse already,” Schnittker said of the $60,000 yearling acquisition. “He’s got it figured out. I don’t know what he’ll be down the road, but he’s really nice right now. He raced like an aged horse today. He’ll win a lot of races on manners alone.”

Cassis scored in 1:59.3, 1-1/2 lengths better than Baximum, while Asabi Hanover saved show. Schnittker owns Cassis, a son of Cantab Hall-Dirty Martini, with Jerry Silva, Arden Homestead Stable and Kelk’s.

Upandover Hanover also demonstrated willingness to pass horses, coming first over for Brett Miller to down the closing Texas Ridge by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:59.4. Early leader Marquesas finished third.

Towering Oaks Farm purchased the son of Andover Hall-Up Front Lisa at Harrisburg for $40,000, which trainer Scott Cox considers a bargain.

“He kind of slipped through, I think,” Cox said. “He just knows what to do. I’d like to say I taught him, but since Day 1, he’s known where to take hold of you, what to do, everything. We probably have to work on his gate speed, but we’ll worry about that later on. I don’t like them leaving just yet. He loves to pass horses, so that’s what we’ll do.”

RT Picaadilly (Ebanks-Sunfest) had a date for the Big Butler Fair on Thursday, an engagement he won’t keep following his outstanding career debut in the Hickory Pride. He scored a front-end victory for Aaron Merriman in 1:59.4, fastest mile this year by a 2-year-old gelding trotter on a five-eighths-mile track. On The Tab was a length back in second, with Admirable Hanover third.

“He’s been working well for my cousin, Tom Loughry, who splits the herd with me and should get all the credit,” winning trainer Robert Rougeaux III said of the Brocious Racing Stable homebred. “We were using his qualifiers as learning experiences, so we had him ready for tonight.

“He’s paid up at the fairs, but I don’t know how many fairs he’ll hit if he keeps throwing down miles like this.”

In the $27,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Pace, Jans Luck floated to the lead, then sailed on the front end to prevail in 1:51.3, equaling the track record for older mares that she already shared with Always Cam. Ron Burke trains Jans Luck, who pushed her career bankroll past $700,000, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable. It was one of five winning drives on the 16-race card for Dave Palone.