34-1 upset winner in $102,355 Adioo Volo

WASHINGTON, PA, July 30, 2022  — Trailing 1-5 harness racing favorite Captain Cowgirl by 3 lengths at the three-quarters and shoved wide for the drive, it figured that Sweet Kisses (Sweet Lou) was looking at a check at best. Certainly, her driver, Yannick Gingras, thought so.

“I was hoping for second at the top of the stretch,” Gingras said.

Yet Sweet Kisses found another gear and roared past Captain Cowgirl to pull off a 34-1 upset in the $102,355 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers, the companion feature to Saturday’s (Jul. 30) final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Pennsylvania’s reigning champion, Captain Cowgirl, won three of four Pennsylvania Sire Stake preliminary legs this season, typically facing stiffer competition than she encountered in the Adioo Volo. Sweet Kisses is no slouch, with a pair of PA Stallion Series wins to her credit this year. Yet Gingras was amazed at her late response.

“When we straightened, I saw Timmy (Tetrick aboard Captain Cowgirl) was chasing his pretty good, so I thought we had a shot,” he said. “She’s been getting better and better. Ronnie (Burke) told me to give her a shot — she’s ready.”

Sweet Kisses defeated Captain Cowgirl by a length in a career-best 1:50, with Galleria Hanover third. When Bythemissal captured the Pace for the Orchids, it gave Burke an Adios-Adioo Volo sweep. For his part, Gingras has won eight Adioo Volo contests, placing him in a tie for second with Brian Sears behind Dave Palone’s chart-topping 21.

SWEET KISSES REPLAY

Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Knox Services and Phillip Collura own Sweet Kisses, who now has banked $118,077. She paid $70.60 to win.

$32,323 Ned McCarr 3-Year-Old Filly Trot

Dreamonhigh (Andover Hall-RC’s Dream) last year became the fastest freshman ever at The Meadows — regardless of gender — when she trotted in 1:54, so it hardly was a surprise when she dominated this stake.

Dreamonhigh seized the lead from post 6, enjoyed a comfortable front half of 58 and triumphed by 9 lengths in a stake-record 1:54, lowering Donato Jewels’s previous mark by 2 ticks. Sabrina Hill and Blue Skies Shining rounded out the ticket.

“We got to float around there pretty cheap, and she raced very well,” said Todd McCarthy, who drove for trainer Per Engblom and owner KAT Stables LLC. “She’s a little green still, she’s maturing, and she was very well behaved today. She’s a classy little filly.”

DREAMONHIGH REPLAY

Dreamonhigh lifted her lifetime bankroll to $317,770.

$35,698 James Manderino 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

This stake also was pretty much over early, as Guido Di (Wishing Stone-Focus On Me) outduelled Rose Run Xtra for the early lead and would not let him cut into the margin. Guido D defeated Rose Run Xtra by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:53.4, fastest win of his career. Andoverthewinnings finished third.

“I got into him a little bit in the last turn just to get him in gear and get him to sprint away,” said winning driver Brady Brown. “After that, it was all him. He was impressive in his last start, so I was pretty confident with him going into the race.”

GUIDO DI REPLAY

The gelding now has banked $161,950 for trainer Steve Schoeffel and owners Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel, Lewis Falton and Sara Zidek.

$60,000 Roy Davis 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace

A fair share of good-paying winners found their way to Victory Lane on Adios Day. Before Chris Page paid $18.20 winning The Adios with Bythemissal, there had been four winners exceeding that price, toting drivers named Gingras, Merriman, Wrenn, and Page himself. But it was “favorites only” parading back after each division of the $60,000 Roy Davis, the Arden Downs Stake for 2-year-old pacing males.

Driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Threelyonsracing were the team behind two of the Roy Davis winners. First up was the Stay Hungry-Surfside Sexy colt Lyons Surfing, a $110,000 yearling purchase (his third dam was She’s A Great Lady), who broke his maiden in fine style with a 1:53.2 victory.

Lyons Surfing went to the lead in a 27.4 opener, then was content to yield to second choice Crown Of Thorns, who put up middle-race splits of :56.3 and 1:25.4.  But the easy middle half gave no advantage to the pacesetter, as Tetrick moved his charge — fifth and third in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in his only other two career starts — outside on the turn, went right by the leader, and drew off to win by 7 lengths over Poseidon Deo.

LYONS SURFING REPLAY

Following the race, King had a bold prediction.

“I think he’s destined to be back here on this date next year (for the Adios),” he said. “I like him a lot; I don’t think he’s come anywhere close to his potential yet, and he doesn’t seem to have any issues. I’ve been pretty kind on him.

“Gotta try for the Adios. I never had me one of those. Gotta bring two next year.”

King’s crystal ball looked even clearer when he and Tetrick/Threelyonsracing came back with the colt Lyons Stealth (Wishing Stone-Focus On Me), as the colt made the top nearing a :28.3 opener, then absolutely shut down the speed, walking to the half in :58.3. Lyons Stealth responded readily when asked for speed after that, going a 28 third quarter (1:26.3) and then zipping home in 27.2 to win in 1:54 and remain perfect in three starts, having won two PA Stallion Series races previously. Pocket sitter Sweet Chilli Heat was 1-3/4 lengths behind the sprinting winner at the finish.

LYONS STEALTH REPLAY

The Lazarus N–Inittowinafortune colt Voukefalas came to The Meadows as the fastest 2-year-old of 2022 after a 1:50 win in a New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship, and he again showed high speed in winning his section in 1:53.2.

VOUKEFALAS REPLAY

Jordan Stratton, driving for trainer Michael Russo and owner Michael Pagonas, kept Voukefalas mid-pack through early fractions of 26.3 and 56.3, then gave him his head down the backstretch, with the baby responding to clear to the lead easily before the 1:24.3 three-quarters, then keeping early pacesetter South Point 2-3/4 lengths in the rearview mirror to the line.

$35,160 Mary Lib Miller 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

The Always B Miki–Sweet Body filly Ambushed overcame post 8 in the lone division of the $35,160 Mary Lib Miller, the Arden Downs Stake for 2-year-old pacing distaffs.

Ambushed and Nevertellmetheodds, both sent off at 7-5 (with the latter favored by a mere $81), argued through a 27.2 opening panel before the second choice made the top for driver McCarthy. Ambushed went on to mid-race splits of :55.4 and 1:24.2, and there would be no ambush in the stretch from the pocket sitter, as the winner went on to prevail by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52.3, a new lifetime mark and only a tick off Lyons Sentinel’s stakes record set last year.

AMBUSHED REPLAY

Hunter Oakes conditions the winner, now with three straight wins including two PA Stallion Series triumphs, for D Racing Stable Inc. and Donald Mac Rae.

For complete race results, click here.

by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association