$163,200 Keystone Classic Stakes held at The Meadows

WASHINGTON, PA, Sept. 16, 2023 — Captain Fear Not (Captain Crunch-Mikayla Rose) missed his chance at Pennsylvania’s title due to sickness, but he rebounded nicely Saturday (Sep. 16) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, capturing a harness racing division of the Keystone Classic. Dublin Dasher (Always B Miki-DB Blue Chip) took the other split in the $82,700 stake for freshman colt and gelding pacers.

Captain Fear Not won a pair of PA Sires Stake events and might have been one of the favorites in the Sept. 2 championship for $252,000. But Kathe Troy, who owns and trains the gelding, realized his health wouldn’t allow it.

“He had a temperature of 103,” Troy said. “It was an easy decision to make, but it was a real hard decision to make. It was heartbreaking. I said to (winning driver Jeremy Indof): ‘Give him a shot. Don’t baby him. Babying him is my job.’”

Indof was obediently aggressive, barreling to the point before the quarter. Captain Fear Not showed no lingering effects of his illness, defeating Syed Ali K by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.4, with Single Action third. Troy said the victory wraps up the youngster’s freshman campaign.

CAPTAIN FEAR NOT REPLAY

Dublin Dasher hadn’t been in a stake before, but that didn’t keep Jim Pantaleano from hustling him to the front for trainer Hunter Oakes and owners Alan Johnston and H O Racing Inc. The gelding not only turned aside the first-over challenge of 6-5 favorite Rose Run Zeke, but he also wouldn’t allow the pocket-sitting At Ease Hanover to get closer than 1-3/4 lengths at the wire while winning in a career-best 1:51.4. War Machine completed the ticket.

“I drove him early on when Hunter was just stating with him, so I knew the horse had a lot of ability,‘” Pantaleano said. “He was just having colt issues. I spoke with Hunter before the race, and he said the colt was probably ready to go a big trip.”

DUBLIN DASHER REPLAY

$80,500 Keystone Classic — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

Ordained (Father Patrick-Chic Chick) and White Shoe Hanover (Greenshoe-Wood Blue Chip) each won a division of Saturday’s co-feature.

Ordained was a seven-race maiden entering the Keystone Classic, but trainer/driver Charlie Norris confidently sent him to the front. The gelding led every step, downing Splendid by 1/2 length in 1:56.2. I’m Out finished third.

“He had a little soreness problem behind, not soft tissue or anything, but he was just sore,” Norris said. “We’ve been working on him, doing therapeutic stuff, and he’s really sharp right now. He’s always had the speed and the ability.”

Carrie Norris, Bradley Berlin, Jim Zito and Jerald Barris own Ordained, who will be pointed to the Red Mile and Cumberland Run, Kentucky’s new racing venue.

ORDAINED REPLAY

In his stakes debut, White Shoe Hanover, trailed by 4-1/2 lengths at the three-quarters and had to swing extremely wide for the drive; a victory under those circumstances seemed unlikely. But the gelding kept rolling for Bradley Chisholm and prevailed in 1:56.4. Highly Motivated was second, beaten 2 lengths, while Two Times The Moni earned show.

“The more room the better with him; he likes to get up the track a little,” Chisholm said.  “When the first half came up under :58, I was fairly confident even though I was a few lengths off them. When he had his two qualifiers, we were thinking about coming to the end with him. We didn’t think he would make it at all. One day it all clicked. He’ll definitely be better in six months’ time.”

Nifty Norman trains White Shoe Hanover for Robynlee Reichard.

WHITE SHOE HANOVER REPLAY

Anthony MacDonald and trainer Tim Twaddle teamed for three victories on the 14-race program.

The Meadows is dark next week for track maintenance. Live racing resumes on Wednesday, Sept. 27, first post 12:45 PM.

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

by Evan Pattak, for the MSOA