The Meadows: Amigo Volo heads Keystone Classic winners

The Meadows was the scene of four Keystone Classic events for 3-year-old colts and geldings on Friday afternoon, and the favorite was victorious in each race.

Amigo Volo (Dexter Dunn) took the first $39,850 flight for trotters in 1:54 3/5. Sent off at 1-9, he took the lead passing the 28 second opening quarter, continued to front the group through a 57 1/5 half and a 1:26 4/5 three-quarters, and sealed the deal with a 27 4/5 final kicker, prevailing by 2 1/2 lengths over Harley K (Dave Palone). Focus Pocus (Tony Schadel) finished third from first-over.

"He's on his way out to Lexington, so it was the perfect spot for him to come here and come calling through," said Dunn. "He's in his top form at the moment. As long as he keeps that form, I'm sure he'll be competitive in the big races."

Pinske Stables and David J. Miller own the Nifty Norman-trained Amigo Volo. From 22 career tries, Amigo Volo now has a record of 11-2-2, and he has pocketed $966,644. He returned $2.10 across the board.

Patriarch Hanover (Matt Kakaley) delivered at 3-5 in the other $39,850 Keystone Classic tilt for the trotters. Positioned third at the 29 second quarter-mile marker, Kakaley moved him to the top around Town Victor (Dunn) before the 58 second half-mile point. Patriarch Hanover would go on to reach three-quarters in 1:26 4/5 and then held off Town Victor to his inside and Nezblanc (Aaron Johnston) to his outside in the lane to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:55 3/5.

"He's just a step behind a couple of the top sires stake horses," Kakaley said, "but he gives his all every time, and he's made some money. He's had a respectable year so far."

Ron Burke trains Patriarch Hanover, a Father Patrick colt, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., William Switala, James Martin, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Patriarch Hanover is now a five-time winner in his life, and he pushed his bankroll to $235,266. He paid $3.20 to win.

Pacers raced in a pair of $34,150 Keystone Classic clashes, and Sandbetweenmytoes (Scott Zeron) tallied as the 1-5 favorite in the initial section. Sandbetweenmytoes forged his way by Tru Lou (Kakaley) from first-over as they raced to the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters and kept clear after that to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:50. Tru Lou wound up second, and Seeyou At Thebeach (Dunn) rallied for third.

The victorious Somebeachsomewhere gelding is trained by Jim Campbell for owner-breeder Fashion Farms LLC. Sandbetweenmytoes grabbed his sixth career victory, has now earned $177,142, and returned $2.40 to win.

"Unfortunately, his only bad race in the last four was the PA Sire Stakes championship," Campbell said. "We'll take him to Delaware for the Jug. I think he'll get around there good. He gets around a five-eighths-mile track pretty good, and that's the best half-mile track in the country at Delaware. I don't foresee any problems."

It was a Burke exacta in the second Keystone Classic grouping for pacers as even-money choice Cattlewash (David Miller) bettered stablemate The Greek Freak (Kakaley) in a 1:51 performance.

Cattlewash left from post four and worked his way into command prior to the 27 4/5 quarter, but The Greek Freak was two-wide at that point and overtook Cattlewash well before the 55 4/5 half. The Greek Freak was able to deal with a first-over bid by Tell Them Lou (Scott Zeron) to the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters and around the last turn, but in the lane Miller guided Cattlewash into the passing lane, and he had a good kick to go with the clearance, getting up for the win over The Greek Freak by half a length. Ruthless Hanover (Palone) was the third-place finisher.

"He's coming around at the right time, and I'm happy to be on board," Miller said. "If he goes to the Jug, he'll handle the half-mile track just fine. He's a beautifully gaited horse."

A Somebeachsomewhere colt, Cattlewash is trained by Burke for owner/breeder W.J. Donovan. Cattlewash made his sixth appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now stashed away $424,908. He paid $4.20 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--