Two-year-old trotting colts battle in $157,760 PASS

WASHINGTON, PA, Aug. 4, 2023  — T C I (Cantab Hall-Nicole’s Promise) overcame some rookie greenness and went on to win his third straight in Friday’s (Aug. 4) $157,760 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Greenspan (Greenshoe-Firm To Stay) and Security Protected (Father Patrick) captured the other harness racing divisions in the event, known as the Florida Pro, for freshman colt and gelding trotters. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. enjoyed a stake double with T C I and Security Protected.

Wrenn had the opportunity for an early tuck with T C I, but the youngster balked and went wide, forcing Wrenn to press on to the point with him. Once in front he was fast and professional, holding off challengers inside and outside to score in a stake-fastest 1:55.1. Bird And Grenade shot the Lightning Lane for second, 3/4 lengths back, with the first-over Memorynimagination third.

“I think he could see his (Ron Burke’s) barn area in the first turn, and he was pulling up,” Wrenn said. “He was a little green, kind of took it wide. But once he got through that turn, he was fine.”

Burke trains T C I for Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

T C I REPLAY

Greenspan dug himself a 2-1/2-length hole heading for home in the $52,320 first PASS division, but his late kick carried him past the front-ending Breezy Hall by 1/2 length in 1:56 for Dave Palone. Poisonpoke completed the ticket.

“He’s just learning,” said Jim Campbell, who conditions the homebred gelding for Runthetable Stables. “He’s not ready to be blasting them out of there on the front end, but he’ll get to that point somewhere down the road. He has a good attitude, and he’s got speed to him. He does throw in steps here and there, but he doesn’t want to make a break.“

GREENSPAN REPLAY

Security Protected was able to take the lead after the first quarter and then wire the field in his $52,720 PASS division, winning for driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. by two and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.1. He is trained by Marcus Melander for owners Howard Taylor, Brad Grant and Order By Stable AB. He paid $5.80 to win.

SECURITY PROTECTED REPLAY

$80,000 PA Stallion Series — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters

The splits in Friday’s sub-feature went to Honor Guard, Executive Game, This Oneisonme and Activation, with Dave Palone fashioning a stake triple aboard Honor Guard, Executive Game and This Oneisonme.

Honor Guard’s win, though, was not textbook, as Palone found himself exactly where he didn’t want to be with the Father Patrick-Honor Thy Daughter gelding — on the point too soon.

“He just got to the front and sat down. He won’t go on the lead yet,” Palone said. “I thought there would be a couple in there to follow; they both ran leaving. I give him credit for fighting back.  Once a horse got past him, he picked it back up again. It wasn’t pretty, but it won’t say that on the check.”

He didn’t follow the script, but Honor Guard prevailed in 1:59.4, with Riveria Beach a neck back in second. Nail Driver finished third. Scott Cox trains Honor Guard for Jason Ash.

Wrenn collected five wins and Palone four on the 12-race card.

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