The Meadows: Like Clockwork stays undefeated with lifetime mark in Keystone Classic

Like Clockwork, the Pennsylvania Stallion Series champion in the 2-year-old colt pace division, is now six-for-six in his career after taking the second of two $41,650 Keystone Classic splits on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows in a career-best 1:52 2/5.

Ideal Flip (Dan Rawlings) took the field of six through fractions of 26 4/5, 56 1/5, and 1:24 1/5, turning away a stout first-over bid from Dew A Little Dance (Tony Hall) at three-quarters. When Dew A Little Dance's bid stalled, Like Clockwork (Mike Wilder), the 6-5 favorite, went three-wide from second-over to engage Ideal Flip on the final turn, and Like Clockwork would take the lead in the upper stretch. From there would go on to defeat Ideal Flip by a length and a quarter, with Iluvtomakemoney (Dave Palone) back in third.

Like Clockwork, a gelding by Ponder, is trained by Angela Porfilio for owner/breeder Birnam Wood Farms. Like Clockwork, who has banked $74,225 to go with his unblemished record, is the first foal out of the Mach Three mare Macharoundtheclock ($501,013) and returned $4.40 to win.

Back in the first section it was 1-9 public choice Wes Delight (Hall), the third-place finisher in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship, delivering in 1:53 1/5. He was on the point at the 27 2/5 opening quarter, the 57 second half, and the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, then used a 27 4/5 final kicker to prevail by a length over Go West Go Fast (Palone). Yupper (Rawlings) was the third-place finisher.

Trainer Mark Harder also co-owns Wes Delight, a colt by Bettor's Delight, with partners Rick Phillips and Deena Rachel Frost. Wes Delight has won three times in his eight attempts, and he has now put away $106,552. Wes Delight, who was bred by Winbak Farm and was a $55,000 acquisition at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, is out of the Western Hanover mare Maid West, making him a half-brother to Western Expression (Artsplace, $236,305) and a three-quarter brother to Little Michael B (Cam's Card Shark, $226,932). He paid $2.10 to win.