The Meadows: New purchase hopes to shine in PASS

True Blue Lindy is an Always B Miki gelding out of the Yankee Cruiser mare Think Pink. That makes him Pennsylvania bred, yet he's never set foot on a Pennsylvania track. That will change Friday when he contests a $159,745 Pennsylvania Sires stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers -- the final preliminary leg in the series -- at The Meadows in one stab to qualify for the championship.

True Blue Lindy goes from the rail in race 10 with Tim Tetrick piloting for trainer Jeff Cullipher, who owns the youngster with Pollack Racing LLC. Friday's program also features a $60,000 PA Stallion Series event for freshman colt and gelding pacers. First post is 12:45 PM.

The Meadows will host all four $250,000 PASS championships for 2-year-olds on Friday, Sept. 3.

True Blue Lindy has raced all five career starts at Woodbine Mohawk, where he sparkled for then-owners Carl Jamieson, William Loyens and Trevor Edwards. He captured the Aug. 8 final of the Dream Maker Series to lift his bankroll to $55,638. He's never been worse than second, and no horse in Friday's field has gone faster than his mark of 1:51 2/5.

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Pollack scouted the horse and 10 days ago he and Cullipher purchased him privately. He's seen plenty of America now, as his travels took him first to Gaitway Farm in New Jersey, then to Cullipher's base at Hoosier Park and now to The Meadows.

Despite his obvious talent, a big question remains: with all previous starts on a seven-eighths-mile track, how will he handle The Meadows' five-eighths-mile oval? Cullipher, who has sat behind the horse for exactly one training trip, is confident True Blue Lindy will make a successful transition.

"He likes to go forward, and he seems versatile," Cullipher says. "That's what it takes on a five-eighths-mile track."

Even a win might not guarantee True Blue Lindy a spot in the PASS championship, but Cullipher indicates they'll be all out for that victory.

"We aren't going there to race easy," he says. "We're looking for a tough race, and he'll be racing tough. I assume Timmy will forwardly place him; we need the points."

And Cullipher and Pollack are looking beyond the PASS final, rich though it may be.

"We hope to get some of our money back this year," Cullipher says, "but more importantly, we hope he'll turn out to be a top stakes colt next year."

-edited release (Evan Pattak for MSOA)