by Adam Packard, for the Meadows
Meadow Lands, PA –– Four splits of the Florida Pro, a leg of the two-year-old Pennsylvania Sires Stakes colt trot, headlined the 15 race card at the Meadows on Friday.
Up Front Prince and driver Doug Snyder took the first division in a time of 2:001, edging out Green Dot and Dave Palone. Sir Royal Pride and Mike Wilder closed to finish third.
“He’s been good ever since he last qualified (on August 20); he was really awesome at Pocono last week after being parked to the quarter and still trotting in 1:592,” Snyder said. “Green Dot is a nice horse, every time I’ve raced against him I finished up the track and he beats me every time. Steve (Bush) has done a great job with him (Green Dot).”
Owner C. Ed Mullinax purchased Up Front Prince for $15,000 as a yearling.
S J’s Cebulla and David Wade won the second division in a time of 1:592. In five previous starts, he had gone off-stride in four of them, but had no trouble from the rail on Friday afternoon.
“He has to stay relaxed, last week was my fault,” Wade said. “Today I just spoke to him, that’s all you have to do, he’s coming around real good.”
Added Wade, “Tonight I didn’t want to sit behind anyone, that’s why I put him on the front. Once he settled on the front end, I was very confident with him.”
The win was his first in six starts. Ratehike and Duke Sugg finished second. Super Party B, driven by Robert Blanton, Jr., finished third.
Snyder won the third division with Stirling Bridge. Sitting a nice pocket trip, Snyder pulled to the outside down the lane and won in 2:001.
“He trotted a super last eighth last week, so he figured in here. They got the shoes right on this horse and he was absolutely perfect tonight,” said Snyder.
It was the third win in eight starts for this Lindy Lane offspring. Windtalker and Bill Fahy set the pace, but couldn’t withstand the charge of Stirling Bridge and finished second. R Sharp Photo closed to finish third for Jay Picciano.
Tioga County and Wilbur Yoder won the fourth division in 2:013. Driven Sakra and Jim Taggart, Jr. finished second. ENS Soaring Raptor and Palone settled for third.
“He was pretty good, he drove nice today. I thought he had enough speed to be good in this race if he minded his manners, which he did today and he was good,” Yoder said. “As soon as I got the two hole, I knew I was in good shape.”
Tioga County was a $3,200 yearling at the Garden State Sale.
Saturday night will feature four $100,000 finals for three-year-old trotters and pacers in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. Also featured on the card are divisions of Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for two-year-old pacers. Post time for the program is 6:40 p.m.