Colts impressive in $159,771 PA Sire Stakes

WASHINGTON, PA, May 4, 2024  — Impressive in his stakes debut, Rush In (Heston Blue Chip-Crimson Tide) pulled the pocket early, blazed home and scored in Saturday’s $159,771 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Captain Fear Not (Captain Crunch-Mikayla Rose) and Booming Economy (Captaintreacherous-Economy Terror) captured the other harness racing divisions in the event for sophomore colt and gelding pacers.

Rush In was stalking Timeisonmyside, who was pursuing his sixth straight victory, when Dave Palone sent him after the leader. He knifed through the slop and downed Timeisonmyside by 1-1/2 lengths, with Solid Character third. The stake-fastest time of 1:50.1 is a new lifetime mark for Rush In.

RUSH IN REPLAY

“He didn’t race at 2,” said Linda Toscano, who trains the homebred Rush In for Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing, South Mountain Stables and Island Run Stable. “He had a little colt soreness, so we shut him down and brought him back early. We raced him a couple times at the Meadowlands for education. He’s handy. He’ll pretty much race off the pace, first up  — he doesn’t care. We’ll let him tell us where he should race.”

Captain Fear Not led every step, but it took vigorous urging by Jeremy Indof to get him home for owner/trainer Kathe Troy in 1:51.2.

“That’s how Kathe asked him to be driven, so I figured that’s what I’d do,” Indof said of the gelding. “He’s a little lazy on the front end, but when you ask him to do his work, he does it. When you keep at him, he goes.”

Solar Solution was 3/4 lengths back in second while Lyons Benjamin completed the ticket.

CAPTAIN FEAR NOT REPLAY

Mike Wilder, on the other hand, was not at all surprised when Booming Economy launched the decisive stretch kick that carried him to victory in 1:51.4

“He looks like he has a lot of class about him,” Wilder said. “His manners were terrific. When I turned him on, he was really nice. I drove him with two fingers, and when I called on him, he exploded.”

Tenacious Hanover finished 1-1/2 lengths back in second, with Hugh Heston third. Ron Burke conditions Booming Economy, who pushed his lifetime earnings to $193,718, for Judith Taylor, Chuck Pompey and Edwin Gold.

BOOMING ECONOMY REPLAY

$60,000 PA Stallion Series — 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers

Copperfield (Betting Line-American Charm), Ante Up Hanover (Betting Line) and Women Layer (Sweet Lou) took the $20,000 splits in Saturday’s sub-feature.

Copperfield outkicked the favorite, Dream Bird in the lane for Indof, trainer Noel Daley and owner William Donovan, downing Dream Bird by 1-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:52.2. Single Action was third.

“Noel asked me if I’d put him in play,” Indof said of the gelding. “He was aggressive off the gate, then when I got him in the two hole, he relaxed perfectly for me. He raced like a veteran. I was very happy with him.”

In Saturday’s $21,200 Open Handicap Pace, Macadoodledoo (Somebeachsomewhere-Pirouette Hanover) moved relentlessly first over to spring the 20-1 upset for Justin Irvine, trainer Todd Luther and owner Greg Luther Racing LLC. The 9-year-old gelding prevailed in 1:50.4 and now boasts a career bankroll of $445,155. Wild Wild Western and Dragon City rounded out the ticket. It was the first Meadows win in the career of the 22-year-old Irvine.

Palone collected five wins and Wilder four on the 14-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows resume Wednesday, first post 12:45 PM.

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

by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association