Swoosh Hanover, Hawaiianphotograph take Keystone Classic splits

Swoosh Hanover swooshed to the lead and a stake record 1:55.4 on Thursday at The Meadows when she captured a division of the $68,800 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

The stake’s other division went to Hawaiianphotograph, who triumphed in 1:56.1--a stake mark that was erased about 30 minutes later by Swoosh Hanover. Entering the day, Win B held the stake record of 1:56.3 for Robert Blanton Jr.

Swoosh Hanover, a daughter of Lindy Lane-Swift Kathy, does her best racing at or near the front, but winning driver Tony Hall said she isn’t speed crazy.

“She felt as strong today as she did two or three months ago when I drove her,” said Hall, who drove five winners on the 16-race card. ”It’s amazing that she’s still that strong so late in the year. Racing on the lead definitely is her preference, but she’s not an aggressive horse at all. Actually, she tries to relax a little too much on the lead sometimes.”

In the Keystone Classic, Swoosh Hanover opened a three-length lead on favorite Charged Freight, then cruised home to down that rival by a half-length. Ithoughtyouknew, who won the Pennsylvania Fair final in her last outing, was well back in third.

Richard Johnson trains Swoosh Hanover, who was unraced at two and now has won six of 11 starts for Fabulous Farms LLC.

Hawaiianphotograph was enjoying a fine campaign until she broke stride in consecutive starts--including the PASS championship at Harrah’s Chester. Trainer Bill Zendt rigged her with hobbles, an experiment that lasted precisely one race before driver Dave Palone advised against it and Zendt scuttled it.

“That was probably a mistake,” Zendt said. “We thought we’d try her with hopples, but Dave said she didn’t have the trot with them. I don’t know why she made those breaks, but Dave said she really feels solid now.”

In the Keystone Classic, the daughter of S J's Photo-Hawaiian Rose got away third from the rail, yet Palone sensed she was unhappy covered up.

“She was so hot today the rail was the worst spot for her,” said Palone, who had four wins on the day. ”I was actually in trouble in the first turn. I thought the right move was to get her out rather than have her make a mistake.”

Once on the lead, Hawaiianphotograph was all business, scoring by a neck over Classic Lane and AJ’s Baby. Shanamphilaniklou owns Hawaiianphotograph, who now sports lifetime earnings of $226,134. Zendt said the filly may enter the Matron and likely will race at four.

In the $25,000 Filly and Mare Preferred Trot, Tom’s OK Lady and Palone worked out a second-over trip to score in 1:55.4, 2 1/2 lengths better than Whybabywhy. Go Get Blanche was third. Mickey Burke trains Tom’s OK Lady, a 5-year-old daughter of Inquirer-This Gal’s OK who pushed her career bankroll north of $250,000 for Sylvia Burke, Bethann Palone, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and M1 Stable. (The Meadows)

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