The Meadows: Dreamonhigh swiftest in PA Sire Stakes splits

First-time starter Dreamonhigh confidently quarter-poled to the top and scored in a stake-fastest 1:56 2/5 in Friday's $164,568 Pennsylvania Sire Stake at The Meadows. Vogue and Mimi Ocean Hanover captured the other two divisions in the event for freshman filly trotters.

Dreamonhigh sent mixed signals from her two qualifiers at Gaitway Farm, breaking stride in the first, trotting cleanly in the second. The difference? Joe Bongiorno, who piloted the daughter of Andover Hall-RC's Dream for trainer Jennifer Bongiorno and owner Amos Lengacher, attributes the improvement to the addition of hopples.

"She has a pretty good head on her shoulders, and we've really been careful making sure she doesn't get hot," he said. "The hopples absolutely have made a difference. They're on loose, but just that little bit of extra support seems to have made a big difference. She felt really safe today, and I think she has a bright future."

Dreamonhigh drew off late to defeat A Perfect Helen by 3 1/4 lengths, with Ebbies Lady third. Her time was especially impressive, as she had to race through the slop while the other splits were contested over a fast surface.

Vogue also jumped it off in one of her two qualifiers, but winning trainer Per Engblom did not add hopples.

"She's a nice filly, very slick gaited," Engblom said of his $60,000 yearling acquisition. "I was a little worried when she got behind horses because she can shake her head a little bit, but she behaved great. She's eligible in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, so she'll have plenty of opportunities."

The daughter of Father Patrick-Swan And Only quarter-poled to the point for David Miller and held off the late charge of Baptism to edge her by a head in 1:58. Behindblueyes completed the ticket. Engblom Stable, Wiesman Farms Joyce McClelland, and R A W Equine Inc. campaign the winner.

Owner Ralph Curry and trainer Anne Stoebe were attracted to Mimi Ocean Hanover as a yearling in part because Mimi is the name of Curry's wife, so attracted that they dug deep and gave $125,000 for her. They have thousands more reasons to like her now, as she launched a determined uncovered move from fifth to triumph at first asking in 1:57 for Dave Palone. Early leader Pink Gypsy, a full sister to last year's champion sophomore male trotter Amigo Volo, finished second, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, while Manon earned show.

"She trained down like that, and I always believed she was that quality of horse," Stoebe said. "She validated that for me today."

Stoebe said the filly will be pointed to the PA All-Stars and the James Doherty Memorial.

--press release (The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)--