Lisagain wins PASS in 1:52.1; headed to NA Cup

June 05, 2009

Without a victory at age two, Dan Carter made it six wins in seven starts this year by capturing the fastest split of a $253,338 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes for sophomore pacing colts and geldings Thursday at The Meadows, winning in 1:51.1.

The stake, known as the Bye Bye Byrd, was contested in six divisions with Lisagain, Hurrikane Jon Paul, Spring Again, Upfront Hoosierboy and El Cucuy taking the other splits. Dave Palone (Dan Carter, Upfront Hoosierboy) and Mike Wilder (Hurrikane Jon Paul, El Cucuy) scored driving doubles in the stakes.

Dan Carter failed to take a mark last year, but his ability caught the eye of Mark Weaver, whose Weaver Bruscemi LLC, along with Burke Racing Stable, JJK Stables and Buddy Haas, purchased the I Am A Fool gelding early in 2009 for trainer Ron Burke. Dan Carter responded by sweeping the Mohegan series at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

"This horse was a flying third in a race that I won with Panmunjom last year, and Mark picked him out off that," said Palone. "He went that first quarter today in :26.1 as easy as a horse can do it, then came home in :27.4. Hes definitely the full package."

Lisagain didnt race at all at two, a particular concern inasmuch as John Carver and Mystical Marker Farms gave a hefty $260.000 for him as a yearling. But the son of Dragon Again-Lisheen has begun to pay dividends, winning four of 14 starts this year.

"We trained him down to 2:10 at 2, but we could tell that he wasnt quite ready to go on," said trainer Tony Alagna. "We gave him 60 days off. Hes a smart horse, and hes learning. Hes a little late to mature. He has the family behind him hes a brother to Lis Mara. Well try him in the Burlington, and as long as hes okay there, well race him in the North America Cup."

In the Bye Bye Byrd, Lisagain and Brett Miller rode the cover of 1-9 favorite Johnny Z and downed that rival by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1. Clear Vision was third.

Hurrikane Jon Paul, winner of only an overnight event at Yonkers in 20 career starts, sat behind a brutal duel between Bunkmeister and Picassos Boy that gobbled up the third quarter in 27.3. Even so, Wilder wondered if he was in the right spot.

"They were pacing really wicked down the backside, and I thought my colt maybe was getting stretched pretty good," Wilder said. "But in the middle of the last turn, he hit a different gear. He came home like he had three lungs. He just kept going."

Hurrikane Jon Paul defeated Bunkmeister by a neck in 1:52.3 while Picassos Boy was third. John McDermott trains the son of Western Hanover-Art Account and owns with Brian Martin. (The Meadows)

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