Washington, Pennsylvania— The Pennsylvania Sires Stake Championships for 3-year-olds may have been contested in broad daylight Saturday at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, but several stars definitely shone brightly.
One was Captain Cowgirl, who won her second straight PASS crown. Another was its driver, Tim Tetrick, who won three of four PASS titles. A third was coach Lucas Wallin, who scored a PASS double.
The championships cost $253,000 each and each split featured a $50,000 consolation. In total, the card offered over $1.2 million in prize money, making for an exciting and competitive day of racing.
For most of the season, Captain Cowgirl appeared on track to win a new title — until she threw down a pile of scrap at the August 20 Lynch Memorial in Pocono. But she landed in a great position for the PASS final when she drew post four, and the filly most likely to challenge her, Treacherous Dragon, got stuck in post nine.
This advantage was a deciding factor. Captain Cowgirl and Tetrick took an easy lead while Treacherous Dragon was used for first position and then first again, a trip that proved too much for her.
Captain Cowgirl retired to triumph by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:50.1. Photo by Chris Gooden.
Captain Cowgirl retired to triumph by 5-1/4 lengths in 1:50.1, with Sweet Treasure edging out Smuggle Tina for the spot.
Jim King Jr., who coaches the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Rideintothesunset, said he has several appearances left in Pennsylvania this year, but none of the rich end-of-season events.
“I didn’t pay her for anything else,” King said. “I’m a little cheap. I like having a one-way pocket. I’m not very good at it, but that’s what I like. We have no reason not to bring her back next year. I don’t know if she’ll go to all the big balls, but she’ll be very useful.
Highlights from other championships:
$253,000 Pace Colt and Gelding – Fourever Boy
The son of Sweet Lou-Macharoundtheclock has made a good living chasing the stars of his division, but until Saturday he was missing a signature victory. He got it when he followed live coverage of the first Layton Hanover, brushed the lane for Dexter Dunn and triumphed in 1:49.1. Greatest Ending rallied in second place, with Night Hawk third.
Fourever Boy brushed the lane for Dexter Dunn and triumphed in 1:49.1. Photo by Chris Gooden.
“He was running so well and had to do a lot of dirty work,” said winning trainer Tim Twaddle, owner of Fourever Boy with Micki Rae Stables. “He couldn’t get this trip. Today it worked. »
He indicated that the colt, who took his lifetime bankroll to $475,416, would be headed to the Simcoe and the Little Brown Jug.
The time matched Aflame Hanover’s 2019 timing for the fastest ever in this divisional PASS at The Meadows. However, the term “record stake” probably doesn’t apply, as the championships alternate between The Meadows, Pocono and Harrah’s Philadelphia, with each venue keeping their own records.
Tetrick’s bid for a PASS sweep ended when his horse, Mad Max Hanover, fared poorly and couldn’t follow the cover, finishing seventh.
$253,000 Trot foal and gelding — For Mea Double
For Mea Double had followed the first cover well, but entering the last corner, he still trailed the leader Keg Stand by three lengths. That’s when he found some new gear for Tetrick and flew out to beat Keg Stand by a header in a career-best 1:53, knocking the 2016 mile down by a tick. Desert Runner for the fastest local edition of the PASS final. That first horse was Dandy, who deserved the show.
It was his first win in 10 starts this year, but Tetrick considers that statistic misleading.
“I knew the leader was moving away from me, but my horse has closed well every week, and he has closed really well to get this win,” Tetrick said. “He’s just unlucky. He’s a little “trippy” and he’s raced against some of the best. You have to ride a bit on the rail with him.
Wallin trains Bar Hopping-Ms son Kristin, who has now banked $269,900, for J&T Silva Stables, Peter Kleinhans, Daniel Kraus and Dreamlover Ab.
$253,000 Trotting filly — Manon
Manon was parked under cover for most of the first quarter, a phenomenon that did not concern Tetrick.
“The outside was showing speed, and as long as the first leader was happy to follow me, that’s all I was worried about. I thought he would do it with me being the favourite,” he said. “She came in and relaxed and had a good race. She will go with the best for sure.
Manon had just enough to hold off Luisella by a neck in 1:53.1, with the first on Dreamonhigh third. The time tied Hidden Viggorish’s 2004 effort for fastest local performance in the final.
A daughter of Bar Hopping-Are You Ready, Manon now claims earnings of $327,372 for Wallin and owner Harbor Racing Stable LLC.
Notes on the PASS: Consolations went to Miss Helen Hanover (filly gait), Design Fashion (filly trot), Ducasse (colt and gelding trot) and JM’s Finalyreasure (colt and gelding gait).
In this JM Final Treasure win, coach Ron Burke had four of the best five starts; Nautical Hanover finished third to avoid a clean sweep.
Burke and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. teamed up for four wins in the day’s 12 pari-mutuel events.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes on Wednesday, when the program offers a pair of rollovers: $2,666.53 in the Super Hi-5 final race, $626.87 in the Jackpot Pick-5 (race four). The first post is at 12:45 p.m.
