by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Saturday’s (July 29) card at The Meadows, headlined by the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids and the Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo, also featured four other Grand Circuit stakes. Here are the highlights of those Arden Downs events:

$45,000 James Manderino — 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters
Snowstorm Hanover was a major player in his division last year, banking nearly $350,000 and taking a mark of 1:55.1. At three, however, he finished out of the money in his first eight starts, prompting trainer Ron Burke to add hopples and Lasix. The changes may have helped in the Manderino, as Snowstorm Hanover moved powerfully first-over to score in 1:55 for Matt Kakaley. Andy M was second, beaten a neck, with Frankie Mullins third.

Snowstorm Hanover collected the first victory of his 3-year-old season.

“He’s been a disappointment this year,” Kakaley said. “I know I had high hopes for him; he finished the year so good last year. The combination of Lasix and hopples probably helped him out a lot. He has more confidence. Hopefully he’s in the right direction now.”

The son of Muscle Massive-Snow Angel Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

$57,356 Ned McCarr — 3-Year-Old Filly Trotters
Broadway Concert’s split figured to end on a sour note; she appeared to be tiring after a demanding trip, and rivals inside and out were threatening. But the daughter of Broadway Hall-Luscious Lindy dug in for Corey Callahan, trainer John Butenschoen and owner Bay Pond Racing Stable, holding off the rallying Mimosa Hanover by a half-length in 1:55.1, matching her life mark. Gin’s Tonic completed the ticket.

Broadway Concert was outside for the opening panel plus, but Callahan said that wasn’t a big issue.

“I kind of waited for everything to settle in the first eighth,” he said. “I did get a tiny break up the backside. She kept fighting. I had to urge her a little bit, but she wanted to get her nose up.”

In her McCarr division, Crann Tara looked the best on paper, so Tim Tetrick drove her accordingly, moving first-over at his leisure. The 1-5 favorite prevailed comfortably, defeating Itsgoodtobequeen by two lengths in 1:56.2, with Dangle Then Deke a distant third.

“I thought she was the best,” Tetrick said. “Her form’s been good, and some of the others aren’t at the top of their game. Coming first up doesn’t bother her; she likes wearing them down.”

Linda Toscano conditions the daughter of Donato Hanover-Shan Riches for William Donovan.

$57,350 Gov. David L. Lawrence — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers and $47,630 Mary Lib Miller — 2-Year-Old Filly Pacers
Each of these stakes for freshmen was conducted over two divisions, with the winners being three maidens and a $38.00 shot.

The Emerald Highlands Farm of owner Bruce Trogdon and trainer Brian Brown might have unveiled their 2018 Little Brown Jug contender in the very first race, the first Gov. Lawrence division, as Whatstroublnurocky broke his maiden in fine style, a 1:53.2 victory.

The altered son of A Rocknroll Dance looked like he might be forced into first-over duty, but he got cover later in the backstretch and the colt came his own back half in 55.1, three-wide on the turn, for a three-length victory over Antagonist and Someboysomewhere with the guidance of David Miller.

“He was really good last week but was behind a wall of horses,” Brown said. “If you saw him at the top of the stretch today, he started running in, so you know he’s having a little steering trouble. He’s not taking to this bit very well. I’ll have to make some more changes.”

Yannick Gingras and the Somebeachsomewhere colt Disorder made the lead nearing the quarter and held gamely in a blanket finish to notch his first win in 1:53.1, a race after the track was updated from to fast as the sun broke through. Disorder withstood a late charge from the prospective pocket rocket, and Ron Burke stablemate, Aleppo Hanover by three-quarters of a length for Burke Racing Stable LLC; Silva, Purnel & Libby; Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Diamond Creek Racing.

Chris Gooden photos

Cult Icon wins at odds of 18-1.

“He’s been in horrible spots against real good horses, so he couldn’t go forward,” Burke said. “Today we were thinking, let’s try to be aggressive and go forward, and he reacted to it. Not a great mile, but it’s a better mile than he’s been going.”

Reign On Me had to surmount the tough first-over trip from mid-backstretch, but the Well Said filly persevered, picked up pace-setting Yankee Will Dance in early stretch, and strode off by 3-1/2 lengths while taking a maiden mark of 1:53.2 in the first section of the Mary Lib Miller. The Nifty Norman trainee had shown good closing speed with a second and a third in Kindergarten Series action, and here she was able to take her late ability all the way to Victory Lane for the Jennifer Dalton Stable LLC while giving driver David Miller a win in the freshman stakes for each sex.

“That’s the first time she had to be first over that long, and she handled it pretty well,” Miller noted.

Unlike the three freshmen preceding her to stakes Victory Lane, the Bettor’s Delight filly Cult Icon had tasted pari-mutuel success prior to her Grand Circuit contest, with two wins, including a PA Stallion Series victory in her last race. The bettors were undoubtedly worried about her outside starting spot in the field of nine and let her go at 18-1, but Cult Icon, under canny handling by Tyler Smith, slid a mid-pack tuck early, then tipped wide off a second-over trip and produced a length victory over favored Aim’s Whisper in 1:54.2.

“I loved her last week, but I didn’t like our draw at all,” Smith said. “I lucked out — there was a spot for me (at the pylons) and we got a perfect second-over trip. She did the rest.”

Trent Stohler conditions the filly with a winning attitude, and his Trent Stohler Stable Inc. shares ownership with Tim Graber, Single G Stables, and Stately Gaits Stable.

—Jerry Connors for The Meadows