PASS wins to Rodeo Drive Deo, Good As You

Washington, PA – Friday night lights (Aug. 29) at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows presented two $55,719 Romola Hanover stakes paired with three Stallion Series divisions all for the ladies.

In the first division of the Romola Hanover, Rodeo Drive Deo did it the old-fashioned way, she earned it. After some early speed from Who Are You and Time Of The Season, it was past the three-eighths before Ronnie Wrenn Jr would be able to clear on their way to a quick :54.4 opening half.

Throw in a :27.3 backside and by the top of the stretch it was a two-horse battle with pocket sitter Time Of The Season, but the Ron Burke trained filly would battle through a :27.3 final quarter to prevail in a lifetime best 1:50.

Rodeo Drive Deo now was four wins this season for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty LLC and J&T Silva-Purnell & Libby.

RODEO DRIVE DEO REPLAY

The second division of the Romola Hanover stakes was a compact field of five that saw plenty of action.

As Always Ana Hanover sprinted to the lead from post six, Asphalt would apply quick pressure and take control through a :26.1 opening. A :54.3 opening half would only set things up for closers and Aaron Merriman had Good As You in the perfect spot to take advantage of the early speed. Using the cover from Westwinds till the head of the stretch, the Papi Rob Hanover filly sprinted home :27.2 for a career best 1:50 victory. Co-owned by trainer Trent Stohler and Benjamin Graber, Good As You now has six wins from ten starts and the win put her over $100,000 in lifetime earnings.

GOOD AS YOU REPLAY

Aaron Merriman and Sammy Jo Hanover pushed to the lead with an opening panel of :26.4 on their way to a Stallion Series romp. The pair took the lead just past the quarter and would cruise on from there to a 1:51.2 victory for trainer Scott DiDomenico. The daughter of Stay Hungry now has two wins in Stallion Series action for owners Oompa Farms Inc., and Joseph Barbeira.

The second Stallion Series division saw Merriman a front-end winner again this time with Strange Summer. Moved to the lead before the quarter pole, the Tall Dark Stranger filly withstood a late rally from Pilar Hanover to gain her third seasonal win for trainer Brian Brown and owners Douglas Overhiser and Mark Winship. The 1:52.2 clocking was a lifetime best for Strange Summer.

Ballast picked up her third Stallion Series victory with a game 1:51.2 front end effort in her division. Mike Wilder put the Anthony Beaton trainee right up front past the quarter and would fend off Always Dawn and Sweet Odds late to get the win for Evm Racing LLC. Trained by Travis Alexander it was the fifth win in 12 starts for the daughter of Tall Dark Stranger.

Racing resumes Saturday August 30 with the first race post 12:45 p.m. The 13-race afternoon card will feature three Stallion Series events and two Tarport Effrat divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers featuring Louprint’s return in the days eighth race.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Tyler Stillings for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association