by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Western Graduate, who held one of the shortest-lived world records at 2, took a step toward new glory on Saturday night (May 12) at The Meadows by capturing a division of a $93,232 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for sophomore pacing fillies in 1:53.3.

The stake, known as the Adios Betty, was contested over four divisions, with Elusive Prey, Flashy Yankee and Philadelphia winning the other splits. Philadelphia’s 1:53.2 mile equaled the fastest this year for 3-year-old pacing fillies on a five-eighths-mile track.

Western Graduate took a division of The Standardbred at the Delaware County Fair last year in 1:53.2, establishing a world record that was eclipsed about an hour later by Isabella Blue Chip. Undaunted by the brevity of her fame, she went on to win eight races and more than $154,000 at 2. She opened this year in two overnight events, defeating the outstanding mare Love The Game in her final tune-up for the Adios Betty.

“The question last year was, would she pass other horses,” said Ron Burke, assistant trainer for the Mickey Burke stable. “But she raced real well from the back in her first two starts this year, so I was pretty confident coming in tonight. With this group, we thought she could get to the front and boss them around a little bit. That’s still the style she likes most.

“She’s an average-sized horse, maybe a little on the thin side. I don’t know if she can carry her speed on the mile track, but on the half or five-eighth, she’ll be one of the better ones. We’ll keep her on that kind of circuit.”

A $40,000 yearling purchase, Western Graduate is owned by Sylvia Burke, Thomas Cherichello, George Leon and Lawrence Karr. Ciela Hanover, who suffered her first defeat in four career starts, was second by 1-3/4 lengths, with Goddess’s Angel finishing third.

Elusive Prey, a daughter of Western Hanover, scored a wire-to-wire victory in 1:54 following a decisive pre-race strategy session between trainer Kevin Johnson and driver Ray Paver.

“She’s not really that game on the lead,” Johnson said, “but Ray mentioned that he didn’t want to be coming way off the pace. I didn’t really expect her to cut the mile, but Ray thought she would race better if he didn’t duck her.

“We took really good care of her last year, didn’t race her hard. This year she’s eligible for the Breeders Crown and the Rooney. She has a full stakes schedule.”

Joe and Joann Thomson and Rebecca Williams own Elusive Prey. Top Shelf Hanover charged through the “Lightning Lane” to be second by a half length, with Lockes Of Love in third.

Flashy Yankee, who had only a maiden victory to her credit in 16 career starts, made a surprisingly aggressive quarter-pole move to the lead and prevailed in 1:55.2. Trainer/driver Doug Snyder said the daughter of The Panderosa is improving following health problems.

“I’ve been racing her into shape,” Snyder said. “She pulled me out of the gate. But we were sitting in the three hole, where I didn’t want to be. I knew we would have to move some time, so I moved her back to the front. I believe she broke her maiden on the front end.”

Snyder co-owns Flashy Yankee with his wife, Jan, and Jacob Ramsburg. Yasmeen Blue Chip, the even money favorite, was a troubled second, lacking racing room until the stretch. Village Mirage earned show money.