Stakes record tied in $146,622 PaSS

SWEEET GAL REPLAY

Rocket Deo (Captaintreacherous-Rocklamation) appeared comfortably ahead at the three-quarters, but attacking first over was none other than My Girl EJ, who two weeks ago became the fastest female ever at The Meadows by capturing the Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo in 1:48.4. Could Rocket Deo hold off the champion? She could and she did, defeating My Girl EJ by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:49.1. Lou Lou completed the ticket.

“It worked out were I kind of got a cheap second quarter (28.4),” McCarthy said of the filly. “I figured it would be a little bit of a horse race from there. I figured she’d give me a mile like that, but I still have a lot of respect for My Girl EJ.”

ROCKET DEO REPLAY

Morrison Racing Stables and John Fielding campaign Rocket Deo, who vaulted over $200,000 in lifetime earnings.

The Romola Hanover headlined a blockbuster Friday card that also featured three other stakes. Here are highlights from those events:

PASS $143,162 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace

Security Protected (Father Patrick-Thatsnotmyname) erased the bad taste from his disappointing Hambletonian final, where he broke stride early and finished last, by notching a 6-1/2-length win in 1:52.4. Greenspan and Breezy Hall rounded out the ticket in the event known as the Super Bowl.

Security Protected got a break when Supernova Hanover made a stand-still break on top, but winning driver Scott  Zeron said his colt was primed to win even without the unexpected gift.

“I was in a great position with some fast fractions,” Zeron said. “He’s a high-quality horse. I think it would have been a great race down the lane.”

SECURITY PROTECTED REPLAY

Marcus Melander trains the colt, who vaulted over $500,000 in career earnings, for Brad Grant and Order By Stable Ab.

In the other division of the Super Bowl, Blackhawk Zette (Cantab Hall-Zette Starlet) prevailed in 1:53.3 for Matt Kakaley, trainer Bob Baggitt, Jr. and owner JL Sadowski LLC. He soared over $200,000 in lifetime earnings. He’s finished in the money in all 11 outings this year.

BLACKHAWK ZETTE REPLAY

PA Stallion Series $60,000 3-Year-Old Filly Pace

Winless in 10 previous starts this year, Melmar Melmar (Stay Hungry-Kiss Don’t Bite) found a late seam, poured through and triumphed in a stake-fastest 1:51.2 for the evening’s hot duo of McCarthy and Pelling. Chiapanecas was second, beaten 1/2 length, with Donegal Spirit third. South Merrick Stables owns Melmar Melmar .

Pressure Cooker and Lyons Legend captured the other splits.

PA Stallion Series $40,000 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

Green Pastures (Greenshoe-Southwind Angelica) shattered Team Six’s stake record of 1:54.3 with his 5-length win in 1:53.2 for Dexter Dunn, trainer Per Engblom and owners VIP Internet Stable, Engblom Stable, R A W Equine and Marco Greico. Thaler Hanover and Going Green finished second and third, respectively.

He had only two wins in 13 prior starts this year, and Engblom thinks he knows why.

“He’s been his own worst enemy so far in his career,” Engblom said. “He was scared of everything, very immature. But his last few races, he’s put everything together. I always knew he was a fast horse, and he’s beginning to show it.”

Activation took the stake’s other division in 1:55.3 for Hunter Myers and trainer Melanie O’Donnell, who owns the Father Patrick-Repentance gelding with Corey Hendricks and Andy Rickert.

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

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

by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association