Jug scratch comes back for Keystone Classic victory

WASHINGTON, PA, Sept. 28, 2024  — Still disappointed by his sickness scratch from the Little Brown Jug, Timeisonmyside (Captain Crunch) took out his frustration on his harness racing rivals in Saturday’s Keystone Classic at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, rolling to an easy 3-1/2-length victory. Solid Character captured the other division in the $67,900 stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

The Jug scratch hurt even more because Timeisonmyside already had drawn the rail for his elimination. But Tim Twaddle, who trains the Captain Crunch-Macharoundtheclock gelding for TheStable Timeisonmyside Group, said the decision to scratch didn’t require much soul-searching.

“He came up sick,” Twaddle said. “He didn’t eat his breakfast, and we didn’t want to risk going there, shipping him there early and then potentially racing him two heats. As badly as we wanted to go, it would certainly have hurt the horse. It’s tough to get over, though his win today helps.”

In the Keystone Classic, Timeisonmyside quarter-poled to the top for Aaron Merriman and triumphed in 1:49.3, matching his career best, with Captain Fear Not and Dream Bird second and third, respectively.

Twaddle indicated Timeisonmyside, who lifted his lifetime earnings to $263,130, will be pointed to the Breeders Crown.

TIMEISONMYSIDE REPLAY

Solid Character (Sweet Lou) gave the cold shoulder to Rush In when that one tried to overtake him at the quarter, forcing Rush In to retreat to the pylons. That decision by Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. proved wise, as Solid Character cruised to a 2-length win over Rush In in 1:49.2, a lifetime mark. De La Hoya Hanover finished third.

Wrenn declined to characterize his quarter-pole denial as “hardball.”

“I thought it was kind of a two-horse race,” Wrenn said. “I just wanted to control the pace.”

SOLID CHARACTER REPLAY

Ron Burke conditions the gelding for Burke Racing Stable, Robert Jackson, Timothy Sullivan and Tom Wilson.

In Saturday’s  $21,200 Open Handicap Pace, Surreal Ideal (So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite) followed live first-over cover to a 1:50.1 victory — his fifth win in his last six starts —for Hunter Myers, trainer Vernon Beachy and owners 518 Group LLC and Gitup Racing.  The 6-year-old gelding now boasts a career bankroll of $291,364. Santana Hanover and double-millionaire Charlie May rounded out the ticket.

Next week, The Meadows kicks off its Fall/Winter live schedule, which features racing each Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, first post 12:45 PM each day. The exception is the card on Friday, Oct. 11, which is highlighted by the Pennsylvania Fairs championships. First post that day is 5:10 PM.

Dave Palone collected five wins on the 13-race card, giving him 11 over the last two programs.

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

by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association