Washington, PA — Hollywood Casino at The Meadows’ twilight Friday (July 25) card provided a glimpse of the future with a nod to past prominence.
Named in honor of Hall of Famer and former owner of The Meadows, the Ed Ryan 2-year-old filly trot started the evening off with what would be the fastest of the three divisions. Wendalyn Hanover and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. went down the road on their way to a two-length victory over Mike Wilder and Skylines Salty in 1:55.3.
“I qualified her early on and thought of a lot her and that’s what she showed today,” Wrenn said afterwards of the Greenshoe filly’s initial victory. Trained by Vernon Beachy, Wendalyn Hanover was a $32,000 Harrisburg purchase for owners 518 Group LLC, Ryan Smith and Gitup Racing.
Ginger Tree Alex made it four in a row in sire stakes action with a 1:56 effort in her Ed Ryan division. Following an uncontested front-end victory, driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. described the Bar Hopping filly as “a legit stakes filly and her performance this evening really displayed that.”
Ginger Tree Alex now has four wins in five lifetime starts for trainer Sam Beegle. The former $18,000 Harrsiburg purchase is owned by Beegle, Ginger Tree Venture LLC, Knollview Stable and Robert Reber Jr.
The third and final division of the Ed Ryan saw Ronnie Wrenn Jr. on the lead again and going to the winner’s circle again, this time with Intisaar Mil for Vernon Beachy, again. After a retake from early leader Cherry’s Girl and Anthony MacDonald, the Bar Hopping filly needed only minimal Wrenn urging to keep Cherry’s Girl at bay.
“She’s a nice filly that keeps getting better with experience,” Wrenn said of Beachy’s second training win to go along with a second win for owners 518 Group LLC, Ryan Smith and Gitup Racing. The connections purchased Intisaar Mil last fall at Lexington for $30,000.
The 2-year-old colt portion of the evening provided more drama than the fillies. Shawn Johnston and Steve Schoeffel would team up for the upset of the evening with a 45-1 stunner with Tymal Kryptonite.
Johnston landed third and would never leave the rail, taking advantage of others missteps. “Everything went our way,” Johnston said after. “He was on the right line and when the pocket sitter ran, I could guide to the inside passing lane.”
The 1:56.3 clocking is a new lifetime mark for trainer Steve Schoeffel and owners Kathy Schoeffel and Lewis Falton, who purchased the colt for $170,00 at the Harrisburg sale.
The second Robert Key division would produce the closet stakes action of the night as Mr Big Spender and Mike Wilder would sprint home a head better than fast closing R Tommy Collins and Tom Svrcek.
After the race, Wilder explained, “I was comfortable where we landed early on but I re-moved to be in the best position to work. Svrcek’s colt was trotting hard at me late, but we were still in hand.”
The front-end effort was the third sire stakes win for the freshman son of Captain Corey. The 1:57.1 effort gives Mr Big Spender three wins in four lifetime starts for trainer Norm Parker and the partnership of Bart and Todd Brice.
For the evening, top honors went to driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. with four victories and trainer Vernon Beachy with a pair of victories in the Ed Ryan. Hollywood Casino at The Meadows also saw the lowering of an all-time track record. In the Open Trot, Hillexotic and Dave Palone’s 1:50.3 effort became the fastest mile ever trotted at the 62-year old track. The time breaks the previous mark of 1:51.1 established by Jujubee and the late Hunter Myers.
Adios Day (Saturday, July 26) racing starts with first race post at 11:30 a.m.