Panesthetic rewards owners with PA Stallion win

June 11, 2010

Panesthetic, a horse so disappointing at two he was sold, gave his new owners a breakthrough win Friday at The Meadows by capturing the fastest division of a $140,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

The event was conducted over seven divisions, with Lap Hanover, Headbutt Harley, Show Me Up, Eagle Jolt, Earlymorninarrival and Fisher�s Character taking the other splits. Dave Palone enjoyed a stake triple (Lap Hanover, Show Me Up, Fisher�s Character) while Brett Miller (Panesthetic, Eagle Jolt) and trainer Ron Burke (Lap Hanover, Fisher�s Character) each fashioned a stake double.

The festive stake atmosphere was marred by a spectacular four-horse pile-up in an overnight event that sent two drivers, Aaron Merriman and Ray Paver, to the hospital with injuries as yet undetermined.

Panesthetic failed to take a mark in six starts last year but has turned things around for his new connections, trainer Scott Blackler and owners Arlene Shaw, Alice Bonenfant and P. Richard Shaw. He finished first or second in five of his first six outings this year and capped his rise with Saturday�s stake victory�his first�in a career-best 1:51.2.

Miller sent the 3-5 favorite on a decisive quarter-pole move, and the gelded son of The Panderosa-Panalgesic prevailed by 3 3/4 lengths over Dodekaphobia, with Unicorn Hanover third.

"He made a couple breaks last year, and the guys who had him put him in the Harrisburg sale,� said Blackler of the $20,000 acquisition. �He turned into a pretty nice colt. We�ll see how he comes out of the race and what the owners want to do next. He�s eligible only to Pennsylvania stakes.�

Lap Hanover had been facing top competition in such stakes as the Hempt, a schedule that sharpened him for his Stallion Series appearance.

�It did him good to race against the better ones because it made a real horse out of him,� Palone said. �You could never use him twice before like I used him today. His attitude has improved.�

On Friday, Palone moved the No Pan Intended-Laskis gelding to the front past the quarter, and he drew off to score by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:51.4. Sleek Hunter was second while early leader Well Al B finished third.

Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, Phillip Collura and Tracy Hendler own Lap Hanover, who pushed his career bankroll past $100,000.

Before his alarming spill, Merriman provided the stake�s tote board fireworks as he brought Headbutt Harley home at 35-1. Headbutt Harley, a diminutive son of The Panderosa-Hawaiian Dixie, overtook the even-money favorite, Tom Paine, with a determined late move that brought him a half-length victory over that rival in 1:53. Bungleinthejungle finished third.

�We were taking our time with him,� said Jeffery Clark who trains Headbutt Harley and owns with David Clark. �We weren�t in a hurry with his stakes coming up. I like everything about him but his size. But he has a long stride, so we wanted to give him a shot.�

In the $25,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, Triumphant Caviar surpassed $500,000 in lifetime earnings with a powerful 1 1/2-length victory in 1:54.1, equaling the track record for 4-year-old stallions. Palone drove, one of his six victories on the 15-race card, for trainer Chris Beaver and owners Kerry Beaver, James Gallagher and Luc Ouellette.

On Saturday, the Meadows hosts the $265,920 Bye Bye Byrd, a Pennsylvania Sires Stake for sophomore colt and gelding pacers. (The Meadows)

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