PASS at The Meadows

Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action got underway Saturday night with the 3-year-old trotting fillies competing at The Meadows. The winners were Up Front Hotsey (1:57.2), Up Front T-Bird (1:58), My Lady Arwen (1:59) and Gyration Hanover (1:57.4).

Up Front Hotsey and driver Dave Palone took the lead early and never looked back. “I wanted the two hole behind the five (Tori Ann), but I let her float on her own. If she stays flat, she’ll always be the one to beat,” Palone said. The daughter of SJ’s Caviar, who cost $40,000 as a yearling, set fractions of :28, :58 and 1:27.3 before trotting home in : 29.4.

Up Front Hotsey, owned by Ed Mullinax and Frank Dettore, scored her third victory in seven lifetime starts. Kelly O’Donnell trains the filly.

Lady Caviar, driven by Doug Snyder, skimmed the pylons to pick up the place spot and Tori Ann managed to salvage the third spot.

Mullinax took the second division as well, this time with Up Front T-Bird. Doug Snyder guided the daughter of SJ’s Caviar to the victory.

“I didn’t know the filly, but she showed that she always trotted through the wire, so I brought her first up,” Snyder said. “She felt so good that I could’ve left, but I decided to come from off the pace because her previous lines don’t show her leaving.”

The early leader, Bye Bye Kerry, set quarter fractions of :29 and :59.3 before the quick move by Up Front T-Bird caught Bye Bye Kerry by surprise, and Up Front T-Bird had the lead at the three-quarter marker, in 1:28.2. “She put a couple bad steps in around the final turn, but I slowed her down till we hit the lane and she trotted home nicely,” added Snyder.

Bye Bye Kerry and driver Dave Palone hung on for the place spot. Doug’s brother, Dane Snyder’s Kosmopoliton, closed for third.

The third division appeared to belong to Swept To Victory, who had an open-length lead in the stretch, but the young filly went offstride late and gave My Lady Arwen a second opportunity, and she took full advantage of it.

“I got this filly on Sunday from Dirk (Simpson) and I gave her a lot of field time and kept her happy,” trainer John Sokol said.

My Lady Arwen was driven to victory by Richard Stillings. Keystone Bianca and driver Wade Ross finished second and ENS Curious took third for Mike Wilder.

Palone reached the winner’s circle once again in the final division with Gyration Hanover. “She never showed being on the lead, so I was a little worried, but she was a perfect lady and she let go of me down the backside just like she’s supposed to, and took off in the lane,” Palone said.

Gyration Hanover cruised to an open-length victory. Rick Zeron trains the daughter of SJ’s Caviar.

American Shell sat the pocket trip, but could do no better than second for Charlie Norris. Southwind Felician finished third for Doug Snyder. (By Adam Packard/The Meadows)

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