Washington, PA — Sistas blew away the field in Monday’s (July 20) $60,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies at The Meadows, capturing her fourth consecutive win and third straight in the series.
The event was contested over three divisions, with I’m So Fancy and Scented Roses taking the other splits. Dave Palone fashioned a stake double behind Sistas and I’m So Fancy.
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| Chris Gooden photo |
| Dave Palone drove Sistas to a 1:54.4 victory. |
Palone let the field settle before moving Sistas, the 1-5 favorite, to the front at the quarter pole. She opened up from there, defeating Kirsi Hanover by seven lengths in 1:54.4, with RV Janet third.
“We’ll just try to keep her sharp and prep her for the final of the stallion series,” said Mickey Peterson, who trains the daughter of Andover Hall-Honorable Mother for Albert Crawford and Michelle Crawford. “I think she does her best work right on the lead. She’ll follow, she’s very well mannered, but when you’re the best, you like to stay clear and out of trouble.”
Palone employed the same strategy with I’m So Fancy, sending her to the point at the quarter pole. No one could gain on the daughter of Donato Hanover-Harbour Belle, who triumphed in a career-best 1:54.4. Manhattan Miss was second, 2-1/2 lengths back, while early leader Wouldn’t Itbesweet earned show.
“She’ a green filly kind of thrown into stake races. She’s just starting to learn,” Palone said. “Her composure was pretty good today, and that’s when she’s at her best. A real lady behind the gate. I thought if I could get back to the front and control it, she would be tough to catch.”
Ron Burke conditions I’m So Fancy for Burke Racing Stable, Howard Taylor, Judith Taylor and Dandy Farms.
Scented Roses also made the decisive move at the quarter, zipping to the lead for Aaron Merriman, trainer Ake Svanstedt and owner Top Ten Racing Stable. The daughter of Cantab Hall-Scent Of A Woman easily thwarted the first-over challenge of Pad Princess and prevailed in 1:55.2, three lengths better than Global Ice. Gold Cora completed the ticket.
“I felt like the front was the place to be,” Merriman said. “She looked very good on paper, and her last start, she started coming around. She has a beautiful mouth on her.”
In the $18,000 Preferred Handicap, Tamarind continued his domination of the track’s elite trotters, winning his sixth straight with yet another relentless uncovered move. He scored for Merriman and owner/trainer Bill Bercury in 1:53.2, 1-1/4 lengths ahead of Trustworthy Kid, with Monte Cristo Spur third. The 7-year-old son of Angus Hall-Spicegirl Kosmos extended his career bankroll to $689,544. It was one of four wins for Merriman on the 14-race card.
