2YO paces 2:00.1 at The Meadows

A total of 15 qualifying races were held at The Meadows on a rainy Saturday morning session, the first six of which featured 2-year-old trotters and pacers, most making their career debuts.

 

In the first race, Keystone Reactor, owned and driven by Cory Kreiser, was a wire to wire winner.  The colt by Dragon Again cut fractions of 30.2, 1:04, and 1:34.3 before cruising home in 30 seconds flat for a mile in 2:04.3.  NF Class Act, by Metropolitan, was second, ahead of Stripe N Star, by No Pan Intended.

 

The second race featured a full field of eight trotters on a track that was listed sloppy, with a two second allowance given by the judges. My Good Side, a 2YO Broadway Hall filly owned by Tom Barrett of Butler, Pennsylvania, opened up a 7-length lead by the half-mile pole, cutting fractions of 30.4 and 1:01.3.  The filly then trotted the backside in 29.1, reaching the marker in 1:30.4, before cruising to an 8-length win in 2:01.4. Steve Schoeffel trains and drove the winner, while another member of his stable, Mynah Hanover, (Cantab Hall) finished second for driver Kyle Bolon.  Clydabell, by Broadway Hall, was third.

 

Up next was a group of four pacers, and Three Artist, out of the Marty Wollam Stable, led the field by the half mile pole, with early fractions of 32 and 1:02.1.  Move It Forward, a gelded son of I Am A Fool, made his move down the backstretch for trainer/driver Tye Loy, and the pair reached the ¾ marker in 132.4.  The final quarter proved to be the fastest, 29.1, as Move It Forward pulled away to a two-length win over fast closing Adams Hanover, by Western Hanover, out of the Ron Burke Stable.

 

Six pacers went behind the gate for the fourth qualifier, and Uptown Dreamer, by April Dreamer, cut the opening quarter in 30.1 before yielding to the Panspacific Flight filly Skyway Flight.  

 

Skyway Flight then led the rest of the way, cutting the half in 1:01.3 before coming home in 59.1 for a mile in 2:00.4 in the off-going.  Dave Palone guided the winner for Ron Burke.  Stablemate Foxy Lady, by Real Desire, closed from fifth in the stretch to be second for driver Ken Weimer, while Countless Gold, by Blissfull Hall, finished third for Cory Kreiser.

 

The day’s second group of trotters took to the track for the fifth qualifier, and the race belonged to another Burke Stable entrant, Dream Kid.  A son of Cincinnati Kid, Dream Kid cut the opening half in 1:03.3 then came home in 59.3 for a mile in 2:03.1, good for a 25-length victory over My Last Haul, a Broadway Hall 2YO out of the Jason Shaw Stable.  Oak Ridge Boy, a son of Tom Ridge, finished third for Marty Wollam.

 

The fastest 2YO qualifier of the day was the sixth race, which saw Metis Blue Chip, a filly by The Panderosa, go to the front in 31 seconds for driver Mike Wilder and trainer Ron Burke.  The filly then got to the half in 1:01.2 and the ¾ in 1:30.3 before covering the mile in 2:00.1.  Cams Cheshire Cat, by Grinfromeartoear, was second for Marty Wollam, while DVC Hopnattitude, by Magical Mike, finished third for Dave Brickell.

 

The next 2YO qualifiers at the Meadows will be held on Thursday, June 10.  Older horses will qualify on Wednesday, June 9, which represents a scheduled change from what had previously been announced.--By Jeff Zidek