The Meadows: Favorites roll in PA Sire Stakes events

Whiskey Blu and Jujubee both continued their strong 2021 campaigns by winning the pair of $73,853 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters that took place on Friday afternoon at The Meadows.

Driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr. in the first split, Whiskey Blu tucked in third from post six and then moved two-wide before the 27 3/5 opening quarter. After wrestling the top spot away from Capstone (Ake Svanstedt) prior to the 56 1/5 half, Whiskey Blu rolled through three-quarters in 1:24 3/5, kept control around the final bend, and held sway to the wire while totally wrapped-up. He downed Capstone by three-parts of a length in the 1:54 1/5 mile, with Goodashim (Yannick Gingras) third.

"In the last turn, I was trying to keep everyone locked in to make sure I had enough trot to get home," Wrenn Jr. said. "He was very strong at the wire. As soon as I let him trot down the stretch, he won pretty easily."

A Southwind Frank gelding bred by Crawford Farms LLC., Whiskey Blu is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Kitefield Stable, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Unraced as a 2-year-old, Whiskey Blu has a record of 12-3-0 from 17 tries this year, and he has now earned $175,003. He paid $4.20 to win as the even-money favorite.

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In the other grouping, Jujubee (Tony Hall) left quickly but yielded to Sunny Crockett (Andy Miller) coming to the 26 4/5 opening quarter. Hall then brought Jujubee to the outside, made front, and went on to post sensible middle-half stations of 56 3/5 and 1:25 1/5. Ethan T Hanover (Wrenn Jr.) was able to make a first-over advance out of fourth into second on the way to three-quarters, but he was no match for Jujubee, as he accelerated around the last turn and through the lane en route to a 3 3/4 length decision in 1:53 1/5, a life's-best clocking. Ethan T Hanover did hold second, with Sunny Crockett third.

"I knew he had the right attitude, but I wasn't sure he was quite that fast," trainer Greg Wright Jr. said. "The PaSS final is the only big race he has left, but we'll look around and see if we can find something for him at the Meadowlands or Hoosier Park. We'll play it by ear."

Wright Jr. trains Jujubee, a colt by Creatine, for owner/breeder Jon Erdner. Jujubee had two wins, two seconds, and a third in five appearances as a rookie, and he has backed that up by posting nine victories and two runner-up finishes from 12 tries in 2021. He has banked $148,607 overall and returned $2.80 to win as the 2-5 choice.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association--