The Meadows: That Ole Bar Stool scores fifth straight victory

That Ole Bar Stool squeezed through a surprise seam around the final turn and rolled on to victory in a division of Saturday's $133,106 Pennsylvania Sire Stake at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. The other split in the Hickory Smoke for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters went to Dandy by disqualification.

The even-money favorite, That Ole Bar Stool was third along the pylons when S I P loomed large outside and appeared ready to pass the leader, Donzel Hanover. But when S I P briefly bobbled and bore out, Mike Wilder was able to sneak that Ole Bar Stool between horses. The Bar Hopping-I Gotta Feelin gelding powered home from there, scoring in 1:54 1/5. S I P finished second, 2 1/4 lengths back, with Famous Father third.

"S I P ran for like three strides and was going right, so I just kind of went left," Wilder said. "Then when he came back trotting, I just put my legs in there. It was kind of my spot after he made the mistake, but it was tight. Driving this colt is like driving a car; you have to ask very little to turn him on."

Robert Clark trains That Ole Bar Stool, who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings, for Clark Stables LLC. and Tina Clark.

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Dandy raced impressively, making up most of a six length deficit with an uncovered move, only to fall a nose short to Outside The Fire at the wire. However, Outside The Fire broke stride near the finish and was disqualified and placed back to fourth, with the victory awarded to Dandy. Kosher Mahoney and Pour Mea Double were promoted to second and third, respectively.

Jacqueline Ingrassia, winning driver and owner, said the victory was gratifying given what Dandy has overcome.

"He came to us with a multitude of problems, and he's not even supposed to be racing with the issues he has," she said. "He had a disease called epiphysis where the horse grows too fast for his bones. He had a leg on sideways and a big lump on top of that. The other two owners of the horse gave their shares to me because they didn't think he'd make it. Neither did I.

"So for him to turn out this good is nothing short of a miracle. I think he's so thankful that we took him under our wing and were very careful with him. He says, 'I'll do anything for you.'"

Frank Ingrassia conditions Dandy, a son of Cantab Hall-Cocoacabana.

--press release (MSOA)--