WASHINGTON, PA, Aug. 20, 2018 — Dorsoduro Hanover and Done Well each locked up a berth in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes championship for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers by winning a split in Monday's final preliminary leg, a $162,012 event known as the Tarport Effrat, at The Meadows. The $252,000 final is set for Sept. 2 at Pocono.
The winner of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows, Dorsoduro Hanover entered the Tarport Effrat in second place in PASS standings and so wasn't under pressure to win. Nevertheless, he unveiled a new wrinkle. After a series of tough trips vying for the early lead, he ducked for Matt Kakaley, getting away last in the six-horse field.
"They were stepping out of there pretty hard, and my horse races good no matter where he's at," Kakaley said. "I wasn't worried about sitting last when they were going 26 to the quarter. If they had gone slow early, I would have stepped him out of there."
The Somebeachsomewhere-Deer Valley Miss gelding followed the live cover of Wes Delight, then peeled wide and downed him by 3/4 lengths in 1:50.2, with Macadoodledoo third. Ron Burke trains Dorsoduro Hanover, who lifted his career bankroll to $560,862, for Burke Racing Stable, Silva, Purnel&Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Wingfield Five.
In contrast, Done Well was on the PASS bubble, having competed in only one leg before Monday. While he won that, he needed points, big time, to nail down a spot in the final
Tim Tetrick and the son of Well Said-Dagnabit Hanover took matters into their own hands, vaulting to the point and holding off the late challenge of Shadow Cat to defeat him by a neck in 1:51.1. A rallying Larry Karr completed the ticket.
"I think he had some health issues," Tetrick said. "He raced good in his Adios elimination, and then in the final he was atrocious. The last two races, he's come back. He toughed it out today. I always thought he was better chasing, but in that spot, I have to do what I have to do."
Done Well now has banked $371,762 for trainer Brian Brown and owners James Stambaugh, Wingfield Brothers, Milt Leeman and Alan Keith.
$60,000 PA Stallion Series Stake — 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers
While the stallion series event was Monday's subfeature, it provided much of the excitement, including: a Brett Miller sweep (two for trainer Chris Oakes), all in the Lightning Lane; a stake record-matching victory in 1:50.3 by Terror Atthe Beach, an improbable 55-1 upset by PC's Expresso, who spotted the field perhaps 15 lengths after breaking at the gate.
Terror Atthe Beach equaled the record of Spider Man Hanover by stalking Winston and blowing by in the stretch to score for Oakes and owners Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold. Aleppo Hanover closed well for second, 1-3/4 lengths back, while Winston saved show.
"Chris told me the horse has speed but is not a 1:49 pacer, so if you land on the front, try to give him a breather," Miller said. "I don't know the horse, but he sure felt like he likes the two hole."
PC's Expresso had been competing primarily in overnights, but when he improved with the recent addition of Lasix, trainer Paul Kennedy and owners Paint Creek Farms and Robyn Kennedy decided to roll the dice on the stake.
"The stake was there, and there was no overnight for him, so I just put him in. I've wasted $200 on plenty of other things," Kennedy said. "I figured our only chance of getting a check was to stay flat, but he raced good."
The son of Western Ideal-Palazzo Princess caught the field following the miscue, saved ground along the inside and made up 4 lengths in the stretch to score in 1:53.2, a neck better than Daddyofemall. No Easy Day earned show.
A Somebeachsomewhere gelding trained by Oakes for Tom Hill, Bobby K Hill captured the other split with a Lightning Lane charge that carried him 1-1/4 lengths past heavy favorite Go West Go Fast in 1:51.3, with Yupper third.
"Chris told me this one would be better if I could give him a trip," Miller said. "In the last turn, I didn't think I would have enough time to catch the leader. But when he saw daylight, he was gone."
Dave Palone and Mike Wilder each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.
Stake racing continues Tuesday at The Meadows when the program features a pair of events for sophomore filly trotters: a $165,139 PASS known as the Meadow Bright and a $60,000 PA Stallion Series stake. First post is 1:05 PM.
Phaetosive Headlines PASS Tuesday
Her win in a Delvin Miller Memorial division and second-place finish in the Hambletonian Oaks vaulted Phaetosive to the very elite of the 3-year-old filly trotter division. For all that, she’ll need a big performance in Tuesday’s $165,038 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows to guarantee a berth in the PASS championship.
Phaetosive leaves from post 4 in race 9 with trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer aboard. Tuesday’s card also includes a $60,000 PA Stallion Series stake for sophomore filly trotters. First post is 1:05 PM.
Phaetosive won her Oaks elimination and was sent off the favorite in the final but fell by a length to superstar Manchego.
“I kind of knew what had to happen to beat Manchego, and none of that happened,” Smedshammer says. “I thought Manchego might have to work a little bit more to get to the front, and I wanted to come first over and be head to head at the top of the stretch. We came home in 26.2 and couldn’t make up the ground.”
It was a gallant performance nonetheless for the daughter of Explosive Matter-Phaeton, and it lifted her career bankroll to $489,858 for owner Purple Haze Stables.
But in the PASS, medical issues have limited her to one leg, which she won.
“She was in to go at Pocono (in the PA All-Stars) when I had to scratch her because of breathing problems,” Smedshammer says. “Her epiglottis was entrapped, and they were able to free it manually, without surgery. I’m very grateful they tried the conservative route first — it worked. If she’d needed surgery, she would have missed the Oaks and everything.”
With eight qualifying for the $252,000 PASS championship Sept. 1 at The Meadows, Phaetosive is tied for ninth with 35 points. Moreover, five fillies ranked ahead of or tied with her also are in Tuesday’s stake, known as the Meadows Bright. Phaetosive doesn’t necessarily have to win to make the final, but she needs a large infusion of points.
“She had a couple days off after the Oaks, but she’s been following a normal schedule since then. The Oaks didn’t take any more out of her than any other race.”
Phaetosive is eligible for the Elegant Image, several at the Red Mile and the Breeders Crown. No matter the outcome in the PASS and her late-season stakes, Smedshammer intends to bring her back next year.
“I think she’ll be great to race at 4,” he says. “She’s a big, strong filly who hasn’t been raced hard at 2 or 3. She should have a great future as an older mare.”
by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows