Pembroke Lane sets 1:56 PASS mark at The Meadows

Pembroke Lane, an erratic, headstrong colt at 2, showed both speed and professionalism as he shattered the stakes record in a $212,635 Pennsylvania Sire Stake for sophomore trotters Thursday at The Meadows. The stakes, known as the Super Bowl, was contested over five divisions, with Lear Jetta, The Pres, Dennis and In Focus capturing the other splits.

His attitude as a youngster prompted trainer Randy Bendis to geld Pembroke Lane, a procedure that seemed to settle down the son of Lindy Lane. This year, he took the $33,800 final of a late-closing series at The Meadows in preparation for the Super Bowl. On Thursday, he sat patiently in the pocket for Mike Wilder behind the 4-5 favorite Production, unperturbed by a breaker to his outside.

Pembroke Lane blew by Production in the stretch to score by one half length in 1:56, shaving two ticks from the stakes record established by SJ's Caviar in 2001. Production held second, with Clerk Magistrate a closing third.

     “He was a precocious stud horse and inconsistent at 2,” said Bendis, who owns Pembroke Lane (a $12,000 yearling purchase) with Bill Varney. “We'd see flashes of greatness, and then he would make a break and not be interested. But we always knew he was a good one. He's consistent now. Every time he hits the racetrack, he's the same horse.”

Lear Jetta, Pennsylvania's 2-year-old champion, picked up where he left off in 2007 when he finished third in the Breeders Crown final. His win in 1:56.4 was so effortless that Tim Tetrick never felt compelled to pop the earplugs. It was the 12th win in 14 starts for Lear Jetta and pushed his career earnings beyond $391,000.

“He was a little bit sick when I qualified him the second time. It was just a little cold,” said Bob Myers, who trains the $30,000 yearling acquisition for 92-year-old James McAuliffe. “He didn't have the kick he had for the first qualifier. But after we treated him and scoped him, he was clean. That made my day a little easier.” He said the son of Lindy Lane has a rich stakes schedule this season, but is not eligible for the Hambletonian.

Lucky Jim finished four lengths back in second while An Honorable Man was a distant third.

The Pres sports a royal pedigree - by Andover Hall, out of the 2003 Hambletonian Oaks winner Southwind Allaire - but had little chance to live up to it in only three career starts. He demonstrated his class and potential in the Super Bowl by fashioning a front-end victory from post position nine for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer. The Budster was 3-1/4 lengths back in second, with Uknowme rallying for third.

Smedshammer, who didn't train The Pres at 2, said the colt's limited schedule may have been deliberate.

“I think they wanted to start him late, perhaps because he didn't live up to expectations or was immature,” Smedshammer said. “We have high hopes for him. He's still green and has a little hitch to his gait. But he showed he has a good head on his shoulders when he was pressured and didn't go off stride.”

The partnership of Anderson, Willmot, Dunbar and Fielding owns The Pres, who is eligible for most of the major 3-year-old stakes. (The Meadows)

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