Blue Diamond Eyes may have been part of the Adios Eliminations undercard Saturday at The Meadows, but the three-year-old filly pacer made sure she was more than an obscure footnote.
The daughter of Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover captured a $148,332 Pennsylvania Sires Stake, known as the Romola Hanover, in 1:49 for Yannick Gingras matching the fastest distaff mile ever at The Meadows. The record was established by Allstar Rating also a sophomore and also for Gingras in 2014.
Blue Diamond Eyes blistered the three-quarters in 1:21.3 before coming home in :27.2. Long shot Milieu Hanover rallied for second, four lengths back, while the pocket-sitting Chase Lounge finished third.
Jujubee and Whiskey Blu, old rivals from a spring late-closer event, showed how well they’ve developed Friday at The Meadows, as each captured a division of the Super Bowl, a $147,706 Pennsylvania Sires Stake that wraps up the four preliminary legs in the series for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
With two wins and as many seconds, Jujubee cemented a berth in the $250,000 championship while Whiskey Blu’s two victories likely will earn him a slot. All four finals for sophomores are set for Sept. 4 at Pocono.
Jujubee quarter-poled to the top for Tony Hall and never had an anxious moment, defeating the rallying Ethan T Hanover by 3-3/4 lengths in a career-best 1:53.1. Early leader Sunny Crockett completed the ticket.
I Did It Myway opted to control the mile rather than enjoy a pocket trip, a decision that paid when he scored in a stake-fastest 1:52.1 in the $165,257 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows on Saturday (July 3). The event for freshman colt and gelding pacers, known as the Albatross, was contested over three divisions, with Night Hawk and Wearinmysixshooter taking the other splits.
I Did It Myway, who entered the Albatross off a front-stepping Tompkins-Geers win in his career debut, shot to the early lead from the rail but yielded to JMs Finaltreasure, the 3-5 favourite. Winning driver Todd McCarthy, however, did not consider that the garden spot.
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Jazzed remained perfect in her two-race career with a facile front-end win in Thursday’s $162,544 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows. The first-timer Lake Dora was just as impressive in capturing the other division of the event, known as the Sand Tart, for freshman filly pacers.
Jazzed launched her career with a victory at Harrah’s Philadelphia that was abetted by a cozy pocket trip. There was no such gift in the Sand Tart, as the 4-5 favourite seized the lead from post 6 in a demanding :27.1. But when Andy Miller gave her a :29.2 second-panel breather, the race for win was pretty much over.