by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Trailing by 5-1/2 lengths late in his pari-mutuel debut, Swan In A Million roared home like a seasoned veteran and scored in 1:57.3, fastest division of Wednesday’s (August 25) Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake at The Meadows.

The $80,000 event for freshman colt and gelding trotters was contested over four divisions, with Martino, Georgian Diablo and Fawkes taking the other splits.

Mike Wilder drove Swan In A Million conservatively, per the advice of trainer Matthew Cox, but that left the pair with a lot to do late. When he was unleashed, however, Swan In A Million turned in a sub-:28 final quarter to down Big And Little, the 1-2 favorite, by three-quarters of a length. Early leader Big Tuna was third.

“The trainer said to treat it like a baby race, just try to teach him, and that’s what I did,” Wilder said. “But when I got him out, he was all business, just loaded with trot. I’d like to see his time for that last eighth.”

Diamond Creek Farm, Mary Jane Anderson, Mystical Marker Farms and John Carver own Swan In A Million, a son of Andover Hall-Swan Lake.

Georgian Diablo was shuffled to fourth at the top of the stretch but found the Lightning Lane in time to triumph in a maiden-breaking 2:00.4 for Tony Hall, a length better than Picasso Spur. Quantum Bushman and Somolli Crown dead-heated for show.

The win was especially gratifying for owner/trainer Jim Daugherty, who for $2,000 purchased a breeding season to the unheralded stallion Great George Two in an on-line charity auction. The result of that mating was Georgian Diablo, who has earned $23,353 in eight starts.

“The auction gave my wife something to do; she handled the bidding,” Daugherty said. “He’s raced super all summer long. Tonight, though, I thought he’d have too much traffic trouble coming home. I didn’t think he’d have enough time to get through.”

Martino made it look easy, soaring to the front for Dave Palone and winning his maiden-breaker in 1:59.3. The pocket-sitting Grateful John was second, two lengths in arrears, while Bench Press completed the trifecta.

“He’s really a nice colt — push button,” Palone said. “He crossed right over, controlled it, did everything I asked of him. He’s very willing. He’ll get nothing but better. This was a stepping stone for him.”

Trond Smedshammer trains the son of Andover Hall-Blur for Willow Pond LLC, Blue Chip Bloodstock and Marc Goldberg.

In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, Forever Ivy and trainer/driver Charlie Norris adroitly flushed cover and outkicked the field in the stretch to score in 1:53.1. Cadie’s Gotta Gun was a neck back in second, with Milly Me N third. Rebecca Ewing owns Forever Ivy, a 4-year-old daughter of Stand Forever-She’s A Ruff One.

Sir Caviar made it seven wins in his last nine outings by taking the $22,500 Preferred Trot with a first-over move for Brian Zendt. He scored in 1:54.1, 1-1/2 lengths better than Springboard. Master Lavec earned show money. Leslie Zendt trains the 4-year-old SJ’s Caviar-Sierra Flower K gelding and owns with Bill Zendt.

Dan Charlino drove three winners on the 14-race program.