The Meadows: Father Nuno, Cattlewash, Adriano Hanover score in PA Sire Stakes

Father Nuno, a full brother to Captaintreacherous, kicked off his career with a 1:52 4/5 victory in the first of three $61,084 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes contests for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows.

After fractions of 26 4/5, 56 1/5, and 1:24 2/5 posted by Patriot Nation (Dave Palone) and Lou's Sweetrevenge (Yannick Gingras), Father Nuno and driver David Miller got towed into contention from second-over as he followed an advancing first-up Jahan Hanover (Mike Wilder). In the lane Miller angled Father Nuno out three-wide, and he would come on to get the lead in the deep stretch. Rockin The Blaze (Marcus Miller) closed well at him late, but Father Nuno held sway, winning by a head. Lou's Sweetrevenge completed the trifecta.

“”He’s showed all along that he’s got that engine in there,” Miller said. “I love where he’s at right now. He’s got that mental attitude like, he goes, but he’s not busting his butt doing it. It’s still in there. What kind of upside does he have? All the way to the top."

Tom Cancelliere trains Father Nuno for his brother John. A $360,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase bred by White Birch Farm, Father Nuno is a colt by Somebeachsomewhere and out of the Artsplace mare Worldly Treasure (1:53 1/5, $97,923). Despite finishing first and third in his two baby races at Harrah's Philadelphia, Father Nuno was dismissed at 20-1 and paid $42.80 to win.

In the next grouping Cattlewash (Matt Kakaley) fired to the front from post four and hit the opening quarter in 27 3/5 before giving way to 1-5 favorite and fellow Ron Burke trainee The Greek Freak (Gingras). The Greek Freak got steppy going to the 57 second half after clearing, then got going better again in the backstretch, hitting three-quarters in 1:24. Unfortunately, The Greek Freak's issues happened again on the final bend, and then he lugged in badly in the lane, taking him out of contention. Cattlewash was able to take advantage of his stablemate's woes, as he took command in the lane and pulled away to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:52 1/5. Territory (Dexter Dunn) came on to get second, with Moneyman Hill (D. Miller) third.

Cattlewash is a homebred for W.J. Donovan and is a Somebeachsomewhere colt. He is the first foal out of the Bettor's Delight mare Road Bet (1:52, $380,315), a half-sister to Mypanmar (The Panderosa, 1:48 3/5, $1,490,996). Cattlewash won both of his baby races at Gaitway Farm, but went off today at 19-1, returning $41.60 to win.

“Cattlewash is more professional than the other horse (The Greek Freak) right now. Maybe the other horse is faster, but he was a little bit fractious today,” said Burke. “Cattlewash doesn’t seem to get tired easily, so I do think he could be a top colt. He’s bred to be a top colt.”

Caliber (Gingras) put up panels of 28, 57 2/5, and 1:25 3/5 in the last flight, but Adriano Hanover (Tim Tetrick), who had landed a pocket trip from the outside post nine, came with a stout two-wide rally in the stretch that carried him to the victory by a length and a half in 1:53. Catch The Fire (Wilder) closed for second, with Caliber fading to third.

A Western Ideal colt, Adriano Hanover is trained by Jim King Jr. for owners Jo Ann Looney-King and Joseph Palermo III. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Adriano Hanover fetched $60,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Allamerican Native mare A And G'sconfusion (1:50 2/5, $1,472,566), making him a three-quarter brother to Mohawk Warrior (Rocknroll Hanover, 1:50 1/5, $341,454). Adriano Hanover, who had a pari-mutuel race under his belt, a 1:54 4/5 win on June 19 at Harrah's Philadelphia, was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.00 to win.

“He didn’t surprise me,” said King Jr. “Once he put his nose on the gate and took a couple steps, I thought, he has more than a chance today. He’s a kind horse to be around, and he always tries to do what you ask of him. As of today, his yearling price was a bargain, but he still owes us a lot of money.”

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--