The Meadows: Al Papi earns millionaire status with PA Sire Stakes victory
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows had Pennsylvania Sire Stakes races for sophomore filly and male pacers as part of their Friday evening program.
Al Papi (Wrenn Jr.) returned to the site of his Delvin Miller Adios triumph earlier this year and won the second flight for the boys in 1:50 3/5, going over $1 million in lifetime earnings in the process. Away third, Al Papi brushed and cleared Papi Rick (Justin Irvine) passing the 55 2/5 half. Al Papi then got to the half in just 1:24 1/5 before he sprinted home in 26 2/5 to defeat Papi Rick by a length and a quarter. Easy Breeze (Buter) was third from first-over.
The victorious Papi Rob Hanover colt is a homebred for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The Ron Burke trainee is a seven-time winner from 22 career starts, has put away $1,005,245 and paid $2.20 to win.
Sangria Summer (Matt Kakaley) posted her fourth straight win in the $103,553 event for the girls. She tucked into third from post eight, wore down Hope Hill (Dave Palone), who took the lead past the 27 second quarter and kept it to the 54 4/5 half and 1:22 1/5 three-quarters, from first-over in the lane and held sway from second-over Say Goodnight (Tyler Buter) by a neck in 1:50 2/5. I'm A Lou Lou (Tim Tetrick) finished third.
Luc Blais trains Sangria Summer, a daughter of Captaintreacherous bred by Tara Hills Stud Ltd., Rene Dion, Susie Kerwood and Martin Leveillee, for owner Determination. She has a summary of 7-4-2 from 22 outings, has banked $404,935 and paid $2.80 to win.
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In the first $54,601 division for colts and geldings, Toast Of The Town (Palone) cut fractions of 26 3/5, 55 and 1:21 3/5 on his way to a stakes record clocking of 1:48 1/5. Superchamp Hanover (Kakaley) was second from the pocket, 1 1/2 lengths behind Toast Of The Town, and Carl Milstein champion Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) wound up first-over after he got away in fifth from the outside post seven and had to settle for third.
A gelding by Sweet Lou, Toast Of The Town was sent out by trainer Noel Daley for breeder/co-owner Let It Ride Stables Inc. along with co-owners Morrison Racing Stables, Jesmeral Stable and Alberg Racing LLC. He has seven wins and four seconds from 21 lifetime appearances, has pocketed $221,117 and returned $8 to win.
$20,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series contests for the fillies were won by:
--Sandyboots Yankee (by Always B Miki and bred by Yankeeland Partners Llp., paid $3.60 to win) in 1:50 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr., trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Larry Karr and Phil Collura;
--Make It Right (by Papi Rob Hanover and bred by Fred Hertrich III, paid $2.80 to win) in 1:50 4/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr. and owners Gary McCandless, Jo Ann Looney-King and Larry Rathbone.
The pair of $20,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series tests for the colts and geldings went to:
--Good Friday (by Tall Dark Stranger and bred by co-owner Howard Taylor, paid $4.60 to win) in 1:50 3/5 for driver Matt Kakaley, trainer Tom Shay and co-owner Teena Freibert;
--Ghetto Loupastar (by Sweet Lou and bred by owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and Phil Collura, paid $21.40 to win) in 1:51 4/5 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Ron Burke.

