The Meadows: PA Sire Stakes double for Andy McCarthy, Brett Pelling

Three-year-old colt and gelding trotters and sophomore pacing fillies each competed in a pair of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions on Friday evening at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Driver Andy McCarthy and trainer Brett Pelling swept the $73,311 pacing races. Sweet Gal was their first victor as she swung out three-wide from the pocket in the lane and chased down Dandy's Mercy (Scott Zeron), who took the lead from first-up on the final bend, to score by half a length in 1:49, equaling the stakes record. Canigetalouploup (David Miller), who moved to the top past the 27 second opening quarter and put up middle-half stations of 53 4/5 and 1:21 2/5, faded to third.

"I was hoping I could get out in the last turn," McCarthy said. "I needed an exit plan. She's been unfortunate with some bad draws against some of the best fillies in the country, but she can definitely go with them."

A daughter of Sweet Lou, Sweet Gal was bred by Sergent Stables LLC. and is owned by W.J. Donovan and Mark Mullen. This was her third victory, she has now put away $169,297 and paid $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite.

Rocket Deo, coming off a win for McCarthy and Pelling in the Shady Daisy on Hambletonian Day, fronted her five foes through fractions of 26 2/5, 55 1/5 and 1:22 1/5 en route to a 1:49 1/5 triumph in the other flight. She downed 1-5 favorite My Girl EJ (Dexter Dunn), who had to come first-up from third in the final quarter, by a length and a half and Lou Lou (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) turned a pocket trip into a third-place result.

"It worked out where I kind of got a cheap second quarter (28 4/5)," McCarthy said. "I figured it would be a little bit of a horse race from there. I figured she'd give me a mile like that, but I still have a lot of respect for My Girl EJ."

The victorious Captaintreacherous filly is owned by Morrison Racing Stables and John Fielding. Rocket Deo, who made her eighth appearance in the winner's circle and has now banked $206,451, was bred by Deo Volente Farms and T L P Stable. She returned $6.60 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

PASS $143,162 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

Security Protected erased the bad taste from his disappointing Hambletonian final, where he broke stride before the start and finished last, by notching a 6 1/2-length win in 1:52 4/5. Greenspan and Breezy Hall rounded out the ticket in the event known as the Super Bowl.

Security Protected got a break when Supernova Hanover made a stand-still break on top, but winning driver Scott Zeron said his colt was primed to win even without the unexpected gift.

"I was in a great position with some fast fractions," Zeron said. "He's a high-quality horse. I think it would have been a great race down the lane."

Marcus Melander trains the son of Father Patrick-Thatsnotmyname, who vaulted over $500,000 in career earnings, for Brad Grant and Order By Stable Ab.

In the other division of the Super Bowl, Blackhawk Zette prevailed in 1:53 3/5 for Matt Kakaley, trainer Bob Baggitt Jr. and owner JL Sadowski LLC. The son of Cantab Hall-Zette Starlet soared over $200,000 in lifetime earnings. He's finished in the money in all 11 outings this year.

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PA Stallion Series $60,000 3-Year-Old Filly Pace

Winless in 10 previous starts this year, Melmar Melmar found a late seam, poured through and triumphed in a stake-fastest 1:51 2/5 for the evening's hot duo of McCarthy and Pelling. Chiapanecas was second, beaten half a length, with Donegal Spirit third. South Merrick Stables owns Melmar Melmar, a daughter of Stay Hungry-Kiss Don't Bite.

Pressure Cooker and Lyons Legend captured the other splits.

PA Stallion Series $40,000 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot

Green Pastures shattered Team Six's stake record of 1:54 3/5 with his five length win in 1:53 2/5 for Dexter Dunn, trainer Per Engblom and owners VIP Internet Stable, Engblom Stable, R A W Equine and Marco Greico. Thaler Hanover and Going Green finished second and third, respectively.

The son of Greenshoe-Southwind Angelica had only two wins in 13 prior starts this year, and Engblom thinks he knows why.

"He's been his own worst enemy so far in his career," Engblom said. "He was scared of everything, very immature. But his last few races, he's put everything together. I always knew he was a fast horse, and he's beginning to show it."

Activation took the stake's other division in 1:55 3/5 for Hunter Myers and trainer Melanie O'Donnell, who owns the Father Patrick-Repentance gelding with Corey Hendricks and Andy Rickert.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday, first post 12:45 P.M.

--edited press release (MSOA)--