The Meadows: Lou's Pearlman still unbeaten after PASS win

Lou's Pearlman charged through the 'Lightning Lane' to score in Wednesday's $217,856 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at The Meadows and extend his career unbeaten streak to three for trainer Ron Burke. The event, known as the Albatross, was contested over four divisions, with Burke and Yannick Gingras teaming to take splits with Fulsome and Southwind Gendry. The Legend Hanover, a 37-1 bomb, captured the other division.

A Sweet Lou homebred out of Lucy's Pearl, Lou's Pearlman won his two previous starts with middle moves. In the Albatross, he left for Matt Kakaley but needed the late racing room the 'Lightning Lane' provided to score in a stake-fastest 1:51 4/5. Captainofrocknroll was 1/2 length back in second, with Captain Sleaze third. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Elizabeth Novak and Howard Taylor campaign Lou's Pearlman.

That the Burke Brigade took three of the four Albatross splits is a measure of how quickly the stable's freshman colt pacers have started this year. Burke indicated he began the season with more than 20 horses in this division, and that all have made it to the races.

"We have a nice group," Burke said. "Even some of those that didn't win are nice colts. We have good depth this year. We have a couple of real nice Ohio-breds and Indiana-breds. We've spread it out."

Southwind Gendry rebounded from a break in his career debut, erasing a 5-length deficit and triumphing in 1:52, 1-1/4 lengths better than Bayfield Beach. Crunch Hanover completed the ticket.

"That was just a little baby break last week when I was pushing him three deep in the turn," Gingras said. "I had to go three deep again today, but I was a little more careful. He's a really nice colt with good potential."

The Always B Miki-Gamblers Passion gelding races for Burke Racing Stable, Phillip Collura, Knox Services, and J&T Silva-Purnel&Libby.

$100,000 PA Stallion Series — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers

While most attention was focused on the Albatross, the subfeature was not without drama of its own.

In his career bow, Whichwaytothebeach zipped to the point for Andrew McCarthy and prevailed in 1:51 4/5, knocking a tick from the previous stake mark held jointly by Jack Attack and Captain Groovy. Roland Mallar conditions the Somebeachsomewhere-Swinging Beauty gelding for Alan Johnson and John Craig.

Also exciting was the win from post 9 of Bazooka Hanover, who was dismissed at 59-1. The son of Captaintreacherous-Bittorsweet Terror moved several times for David Miller and won in 1:54 1/5. Blake MacIntosh trains him for Steve Heimbecker.

"The 9 hole? That's not an easy spot, is it?" Miller said. "He went a really good race. He didn't race that well last week, but even with a tough trip, he rebounded today."

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Saturday when the action-packed card features three eliminations for the $450,000 (est) Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids as well as a pair of stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers: a $188,682 PASS and a $100,000 PA Stallion Series event. The program also offers a $16,582.20 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 PM.

-edited release (Evan Pattak for The Meadows)