The Meadows: Keg Stand hopes to turn Friday's Sire Stakes field upside down

In tippling circles, a "keg stand" is a party stunt wherein a reveler performs a handstand atop a keg and sloshes down beer for as long as possible. The equine Keg Stand hasn't done that, exactly, but he's been turning fields upside down as he develops into a top freshman trotter.

He'll try it again Friday at The Meadows in a $156,720 Pennsylvania Sires Stake. Keg Stand leaves from post 5, race 10, with Dexter Dunn piloting for trainer Nancy Takter and owners Black Horse Racing, Christina Takter and John Fielding. The card also features a $40,000 PA Stallion Series event for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First post is 12:45 PM.

When Takter went yearling shopping last year, she was looking specifically for offspring of Bar Hopping, who was trained by her father, Jimmy Takter. She liked many things about Keg Stand, who's out of the Angus Hall mare Palm Beach Bi, but the price -- a moderate $30,000 -- was the clincher. Takter says she changed the colt's name from Dali Bi because, by Bar Hopping, "He needed a drinking name."

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"He was physically immature at sale, but he's grown into the most beautiful horse," Takter says. "He's still developing, but he has the attitude. He gives you his best effort every time -- that speaks volumes."

His most recent start may have been his best yet. The colt, who is dually eligible in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, led every step in a sparkling 1:53 3/5 waltz in the Kentucky Championship Series. He's now won three of five outings and banked $86,276.

Keg Stand's principal competition may come from Global Pandemic (post 2, Yannick Gingras) and Kosher Mahoney (post 4, Andrew McCarthy), who have the look of top youngsters themselves. But when Keg Stand and Global Pandemic squared off in a July 14 PASS, Keg Stand quarter-poled past his rival and vanquished him by 1/2 length.

Takter indicates Keg Stand will continue to compete in Pennsylvania and Kentucky sires stakes, ideally earning a spot in each of the $250,000 championships. After that, he's paid into Grand Circuit action at the Red Mile, the Breeders Crown and the Valley Victory.

"I think he belongs in the upper group of his class," Takter says. "He's always happy. He's the happiest horse I have in my barn."

Guzzling beer while upside down will do that for you.

-edited release (Evan Pattak for MSOA)