by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Whats The Word blew away the field by 7-1/4 lengths en route to a stake-record 1:55.2 in Saturday’s (July 15) $169,952 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows. The event for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters, known as the Hickory Pride, was contested over four divisions, with Lawmaker, Crystal Fashion and Muscle M Up taking the other splits. Trainer Jim Campbell and owner Fashion Farms teamed for a PASS double with Crystal Fashion and Muscle M Up.

Chris Gooden photo

Whats The Word set a new stake record of 1:55.2.

Whats The Word entered the Hickory Pride with two wins — both on the engine — in three career starts. On Saturday, though, he sat patiently for Brett Miller, moved powerfully first over and crushed Snowstorm Hanover’s previous stake mark of 1:56. Explosive Lindy and Can’t Afford It completed the ticket.

Staffan Lind, who trains the son of Donato Hanover-Your Word Is Good for Arden Homestead Stable and Janice Connor, said his colt “Wants to go at all times. He’s never thinking about anything else.” Miller got a taste of that early.

“He wanted to go; he’s a game colt,” Miller said of the $18,000 yearling acquisition. “In the first turn, I got a little worried when I kind of ran up on Aaron Merriman’s back. After that, he was two fingers, absolutely perfect.”

Lawmaker zipped to the early lead but after a slight shuffle had to wait for the stretch for racing room. He roared past You Know You Do and defeated him by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:56 for his maiden victory, with Toast Of Lindy third. Anthony MacDonald piloted the son of Muscle Massive-Pretty Amigo for trainer Andrew Harris and owner The Stablelawmaker Group.

“He’s never really been as good on the front end as he is following,” MacDonald said. “It would take a good horse to out-trot him on the end of a mile when he’s been following. You can drive him like an older horse. He moves so fast. When you call on him, he’s all business. He switches gears quickly for a 2-year-old trotter.”

Crystal Fashion provided the stake’s tote board fireworks when, at 18-1, he shed faltering cover into the final turn and blazed home to score his maiden-breaker in 1:57.1, a half-length better than Bautista. Garnet earned show.

“He’s been trotting home well but looking around and being green,” said winning driver Tim Tetrick of the Cantab Hall-Window Willow gelding. “I told Jim (Campbell) he was starting to be a racehorse, and he proved me right today. He’s getting more focused every time.”

Tony Hall collected five wins on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the card features an $80,000 Pa Stallion Series stake for freshman filly pacers. In addition, Monday’s program offers a pair of total-pool guarantees — a $25,000 guarantee for the Pick-5 (races 9-13) and a $5,000 guarantee for the Pick-4 (races 4-7). First post is 1:05 p.m.