Track record rewritten in Keystone Classic Stakes

WASHINGTON, PA, Sept. 30, 2022 — Pennsylvania harness racing champion Fulton (Heston Blue Chip-Bettor Be Steamin) became the fastest 2-year-old ever at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows when he steamed to a 1:49.4 victory in Friday’s (Sep. 30) $82,500 Keystone Classic. Lyons Stealth sprang a 7-1 upset in the other division of the stake for freshman colt and gelding pacers.

It figured to be a soft spot for Fulton; his bankroll was nearly 10 times that of his closest rival. But Linda Toscano, who trains Fulton, advised winning driver Aaron Merriman not to adopt that mindset.

“I’ve driven horses for Linda over the years, and she usually has no advice about them,” he said. “But she phoned me and told me last week he went slower fractions and about got himself beat. She told me to let him go where he was comfortable and not go cheap fractions. He’s way better not doing that. And she was correct.”

So even as Fulton widened his lead late, Merriman tapped the sulky once to keep him on task. The result: Fulton knocked a tick from the mark Huntsville established in 2016. He also erased the stake record of 1:51.1 held jointly by Dragon Eddy and Southwind Gendry. Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC campaign Fulton, who now has banked $248,545. Lou On The Beach was 7-1/4 lengths back in second, with Lite N Sweet third.

FULTON REPLAY

Bettors installed Annapolis Hanover, runner-up in the PASS championship, as the prohibitive 2-5 favorite in his division, and Hunter Myers, aboard Lyons Stealth (Sweet Lou-Zane Hanover), indicated he wouldn’t have disagreed with them.

“I was hoping to stay as close as I could and hope for a decent check,” Myers said. “I didn’t think he would be blowing by like that.”

Thus, Myers kept Lyons Stealth up close in third, and when the field turned for home, he had little trouble zooming by Annapolis Hanover by 1-1/2 lengths in a career-best 1:51.2. Mayweather Hanover completed the ticket. Jim King, Jr. conditions Lyons Stealth for Threelyonsracing.

LYONS STEALTH REPLAY

Elsewhere on Friday’s card, millionaire Sintra padded his bankroll by converting a pocket trip to a 150.4 victory in the $17,600 Open Handicap Pace. Anthony MacDonald piloted the 9-year-old Mach Three-Dancin Barefoot gelding, who boosted his gaudy bank account to $1,286,453, for trainer Tim Twaddle and Thestable Sintra Group. Wild Wild Western and Surreal Ideal rounded out the ticket.

Mike Wilder collected four wins on the 13-race card.

“Soarin’” Lauren Harmon hadn’t sat behind Macho Martini (Muscle Mass-Peach Martini) before and so didn’t know what to expect when she sent him first over after the lead. But he responded willingly, and the pair rolled home to victory in Friday’s $9,000 leg of the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Thestable Macho Martini, one of Anthony MacDonald’s fractional ownership groups, acquired the 4-year-old earlier this week before sending him to trainer Tim Twaddle. In that situation, what was Harmon’s approach?

“I try to just listen to the trainer,” said Harmon, who last week won a pair of amateur events at the Delaware County Fair. “Anthony gave me some advice, although he’s never driven the horse either. I just tried to see what the horse wanted to do and went from there.”

Harmon subdued the stubborn Floyd “The Roper” Rhodes (Another Breath) in mid-stretch, defeating him by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2. Tom “Mayhem” Svrcek (Berkery J) and Bob “Bomber” Barnard (Luvcrunchess) completed the ticket.

MACHO MARTINI / LAUREN HARMON REPLAY

Macho Martini now boasts a career bankroll of $398,425.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday when the program features a pair of carryovers: $657.86 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race 4), $418.40 in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 PM.

For complete race results, click here.

by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association