Freshman pacing colts take center stage at The Meadows

Buckeye Nation easily won his division of a $246,288 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for freshman pacing colts and geldings on Thursday at The Meadows.

The stake, known as the Tyler B, was contested over six divisions, with Panmunjom, Spring Again, Passit, Wambam Sam and Clear Vision capturing the other splits. Dave Palone fashioned a four-bagger in the stake with Buckeye Nation, Panmunjom, Spring Again and Wambam Sam, among his seven driving victories on the 16-race card.

Palone sent Buckeye Nation to the lead and worked out a comfortable first half in :57.1. That was all the son of Allamerican Native-All Out Of Love needed to score in 1:54.3, two lengths better than the rallying Magicmaker Hanover. Pro Prospect was third.

Robert Reynolds Jr., who trains the $8,000 yearling purchase for Kevin Reynolds, said Buckeye Nation will compete in the PASS championship and the Keystone Classic. Following those events, he’s catalogued for sale in Harrisburg.

“He was good right off the bat,” Reynolds said. “He won here in July, and he’s kept right on trucking.”

Panmunjom, a Peter Pan Stables homebred, survived a wicked duel with Arctic Warrior that saw them battle through a first panel in :26.1. At the wire, they were still first and second, with Panmunjom prevailing by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.3, fastest winning time of the Tyler B. It was the fourth win in five starts for Panmunjom, who was impeded in his only loss and finished a game second.

Tony Alagna, who trains the son of The Panderosa-Pandalay Bay, said the colt has adapted well to a new piece of protective equipment.

“He got a rock in his eye at Tioga Downs,” Alagna said. “It hit the cornea and he had a scratch on it. As it began to heal, he was having some problems behind it with the blood vessels. So he wears a bug screen right now. The eye looks great now. We just leave the screen on as an extra precaution.”

Alagna said Panmunjom is ticketed for the PASS championship and Grand Circuit action at the Red Mile.

Spring Again was acquired as a 2 year old by Jean Picard for $8,500, a steal considering that the colt has won six times in eight races and banked nearly $92,000.

“He’s done everything right, and he’s stayed sound,” said his trainer, Gary Lemaister. “He’s never been the biggest guy, but he’s all heart.”

In the Tyler B, Palone made a decisive quarter-pole move with the son of Dragon Again-Western Spring, who won by 2 1/4 lengths over Chasin Racin in 1:53.2. Tidewater Tomahawk was well back in third.

Lemaister said Spring Again’s season will end with the PASS championship.

Palone missed a fifth Tyler B win when Bunkmeister crossed the wire first but not before interfering with Battleship Kelly at the top of the stretch. After the dq, Passit, driven by Mike Wilder for trainer Randy Bendis, was awarded the victory. George Teague Jr., Bunkmeister’s trainer, could take solace in the performance of Wambam Sam, another colt from his stable. (The Meadows)

« Back