Dribbling Bi steamrolls in $62,750 Keystone Classic

WASHINGTON, PA, Sept. 14, 2021 — Dribbling Bi followed the cover of heavy favorite Parola Hanover, then blew by him in the lane to pull off a 13-1 harness racing upset in Wednesday’s $62,750 Keystone Classic for freshman colt and gelding trotters at The Meadows.

Parola Hanover was hammered down to even money but suffered a demanding trip — out the entire first quarter and then first up. Dribbling Bi and trainer/driver Jeff Gregory took maximum advantage by riding the favorite’s bumper and defeating him by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3. Big Ben Hanover earned show.

DRIBBLING BI REPLAY

“It worked out like a dream to have us towed into the race,” Gregory said. “We benefited from a real good trip, but my horse beat the favorite. He deserved the win. We go to the Liberty Bell next, then maybe Lexington. We’re on the fence about that. We’ll see next week.”

Jesmeral Stable campaigns Dribbling Bi, a Cantab Hall-Dream Child Gelding.

$66,900 Keystone Classic — 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

Entering the day, Lyons Serenity had won five of six starts lifetime — including the PA Stallion Series championship — while Somesweetsomewhere was winless in five outings. Their careers seemed to be heading in different directions, yet each captured a division of Tuesday’s co-feature.

Lyons Serenity triumphed as easily as expected, quarter-poling to the top for Tim Tetrick and scoring in 1:52.4. Yes And Yes was second, 1-1/4 lengths back, with Aintthesamewithoutu third.

LYONS SERENITY REPLAY

Jim King, Jr., who conditions the daughter of Sweet Lou – Southwind Serenity for Threelyonsracing, indicated he doesn’t regret keeping Lyons Serenity in the stallion series rather than the richer sires stakes but may look to move her up.

“I think it’s been a lot better for her,” King said. “We haven’t stretched her out, although she’s had to race pretty much on the front end all the time. She gets on the front and waits on horses, then takes off again. She’s eligible to a couple big races, including the Breeders Crown. That’s a large step, and it’s yet to be seen whether she can go with them.”

Somesweetsomewhere’s 0-5 record was somewhat deceptive, as she was competitive in sires stakes and finished a closing third in the $253,000 final. But she again was facing Pennsylvania’s champion, Captain Cowgirl, who was sent off at 1-9. Even winning driver Corey Callahan thought he would grab the early lead, then chase Captain Cowgirl around the track.

That all changed when Captain Cowgirl made an early break, the first such miscue of her career.

“My intention was to follow the 1-9 shot around,” Callahan said. “When I went by the board going to the half, I was looking for her. I’m like, ‘Where’s she at?’ So I kept coasting and figured we were good from there. I felt pretty confident in her.”

Somesweetsomewhere prevailed in 1:53.4, 1-1/4 lengths better than Galleria Hanover. No Foolin completed the ticket. Linda Toscano trains the winner, a daughter of Sweet Lou, for Purple Haze Stables and Conrad Zurich.

SOMESWEETSOMEWHERE REPLAY

Mike Wilder collected three wins on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday when the program features a pair of Keystone Classics for 2-year-olds: a $77,100 stake for filly trotters and a $63,750 event for colt and gelding pacers. The program also offers a $1,965.10 carryover in the Pick 5 (race 8). First post is 12:45 PM.

For full race results, click here.

by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association