Dan Patch Award winner Pinkman strolled to a workmanlike win in Friday’s Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Meadows, but it was his stablemate, Uncle Lasse, who stole the show, blazing to a track and stakes record 1:51.4 — despite losing two shoes in the race.
Wicker Hanover captured the other division of the $191,217 event, known as the Super Bowl, for sophomore colt and gelding trotters.
Leaving from post six, Uncle Lasse was three-wide through the turn before making the front in :27.2. Winning driver Brett Miller indicated that was not exactly where he wanted the son of Donato Hanover-Solveig, a full brother to 2014 Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry.
“Three deep around the first turn here — that’s usually disaster,” Miller said. “He was a little warm, and I couldn’t get him in behind another horse. I kind of had to move him to the front. For that colt to overcome that alone, that just shows you what kind of horse he is.”
The challenges appeared to mount for Uncle Lasse as he threw the right rear shoe, then the right front shoe.
“I was really concerned about it, but he didn’t miss a beat,” Miller said. “He acted like he still had the shoes on.”
Uncle Lasse opened a daylight lead and held off Cruzado Dela Noche by half a length, with Soboro Hanover third.
Jimmy Takter trains Uncle Lasse, who soared over $400,000 in career earnings, for Solveigs Racing Partners. Uncle Lasse’s time eclipsed the stakes record of 1:52.4 established by Magic Tonight in 2012. It also is the fastest mile ever trotted at The Meadows by a three-year-old colt, breaking the previous mark of 1:52.3 set by Valley Of Sin in 2013.
Pinkman’s win was much less dramatic. In fact, about the only dramatic things about the laid-back Explosive Matter-Margie Seelster gelding are his lifetime statistics — eight wins in 10 starts, more than $600,000 in the bank.
“We always joke around about who’s the best one in Jimmy’s stable — he’s got a bunch of them,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras. “His name doesn’t always come up in the conversation. He’s not flashy. It’s not like he trained back down that great. He just goes about his business. He can get a little bit lazy. I didn’t try to get his attention. I knew he would be good enough to win.”
Pinkman relinquished the early lead to Bobs Hope, reclaimed it, and scored under wraps in 1:53.3. Honor And Serve shot the Lightning Lane for second, two and three-quarter lengths back, while Cue Hall earned show.
Takter conditions Pinkman for Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding, Joyce McClelland and Herb Liverman.
David Miller had Wicker Hanover in the pocket behind Walter White, who had been trying to switch to the pace for Brett Miller for much of the mile. Around the far turn, he got his wish and broke stride, but David Miller already had steered Wicker Hanover clear of trouble.
“The other horse was having trouble when he went by me going to the half; he wasn’t trotting good,” David Miller said. “I could hear Brett trying to talk him out of it. So I just edged over, and Brett’s horse finally ran. It worked out well. He felt good and strong tonight.”
Wicker Hanover went on to prevail in 1:53 for trainer Noel Daley and owner Christer Haggstrom Stable, two and a half lengths better than Chef Lee. Shoot The Thrill completed the ticket.
The son of Explosive Matter-Won An Done vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings.
In the $20,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace, Certified Ideal held off the determined challenge of Sand Tilly Lace to defeat her by a neck in 1:51.4. Early leader Phone Terror was third. David Miller drove Certified Ideal, who now boasts $338,772 in lifetime earnings. Randy Bendis trains and co-owns the five-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Arebas Last with Mike Novosel Jr., Tom Pollack and James Walton.
(With files from The Meadows)