Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. sweeps Keystone Classic divisions

WASHINGTON, PA, Sept. 28, 2023 — Fresh off his 1:53.1 Delaware Fairgrounds harness racing track record, Herodotus (Bar Hopping-Regal Woman) was even faster in Thursday’s $48,950 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, scoring under wraps in a career-best 1:52.4. Spitfire Oversees (International Moni-Legal Lady) was an overwhelming winner in the other division, giving Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. a Keystone Classic split.

Players hammered Herodotus down to 1-2 off his Old Oaken Bucket triumph, and he did not disappoint, seizing the early lead and staying there. Even when Sinatra De Vie loomed large in the lane, Wrenn never so much as shook the reins at the gelding, who defeated Sinatra De Vie by a length and lifted his lifetime bankroll to $282,193. Big Boy Ernest finished third.

HERODOTUS REPLAY

“He trotted 1:52.4 pretty easy today — the plugs were still in,” Wrenn said. “Today was a little bit lesser competition for him, but he handled it pretty well. I had to steady him a bit in the turns, but I was pretty much just along for the ride.”

Wrenn sent Spitfire Oversees on an extended quarter-pole move that didn’t end until he crossed over near the half. But Spitfire Oversees was more than up the task, drawing off to a 7-length cakewalk in 1:53.2, matching his lifetime mark. Open Bar and HS Winchester rounded out the ticket.

“He still has the Breeders Crown on the table; I don’t know if he’ll be good enough to head that way,” said Tim Twaddle, who trains the winner — who now boasts a career bankroll of $146,504 — for TheStable Spitfireoversses Group. ”That’s only his fourth win, so he can terrorize them in conditions here over the next few weeks.”

SPITFIRE OVERSEES REPLAY

Elsewhere on the 14-race program, one of harness racing’s longer futility steaks came to an end. Six To Won, a 4-year-old Team Six-Chickasaw Wind gelding trotter who began his career with 64 straight losses, broke his maiden in 2:00.4 over a “good” surface for Jack Killeen, trainer Jason Shaw and owner Mason Shaw.

On Friday, The Meadows brings down the curtain on its 2023 stakes season with a pair of Keystone Classics — a $78,100 stake for sophomore filly pacers and a $69,100 event for 3-year-old male pacers. On the wagering front, the program offers a $504.28 carryover in the Early Pentafecta (race 4). First post for the 14-race card is 12:45 PM.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Evan Pattak, for the MSOA