The Meadows: PA Sire Stakes tallies for Southwind Ozzi, Crimson And Chrome

Delvin Miller Adios champion Southwind Ozzi improved his record at The Meadows to four-for-four thanks to a 1:49 1/5 triumph in the second of two $85,029 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Friday evening. Crimson And Chrome won the other division in upset fashion.

With Brian Sears in town to handle the driving, Southwind Ozzi fired out from post seven and got to the point right at the 26 4/5 opening quarter. He was then able to keep clear through middle-half panels of 54 4/5 and 1:22 1/5, and a 27 second final kicker got him to the wire a length ahead of pocket-sitter Captain Victorious (Yannick Gingras). Semi Tough (Matt Kakaley) finished in the third position.

“He was a little warm after the Adios, so we put earplugs in for Northfield,” Sears said. “But he was a little green with the earplugs, so we decided to go without them tonight. He was really relaxed tonight. He’s a big horse, and he likes a big track.”

Southwind Ozzi is a Somebeachsomewhere colt trained by Bill MacKenzie for owners Vincent Ali Jr. and Alma Iafelice. Southwind Ozzi scored his seventh career victory, and he has now earned $388,763. The 1-5 favorite, he paid $2.40 to win.

Back in the opening PaSS clash, Prince Of Tides (Dave Palone) landed on the engine before a 25 4/5 first quarter, but Workin Ona Mystery (David Miller) pressed on to take command beyond that marker. Workin Ona Mystery would go on to click off a hot half in 53 2/5, with De Los Cielos Deo (Gingras) vacating the cones from fourth just prior to that station.

De Los Cielos Deo gained quickly after coming to the outside, getting to the neck of Workin Ona Mystery at the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters. Those two continued to match strides around the final bend, with Highlandbeachlover (Sears) getting into contention after going three-wide from third-over and Crimson And Chrome (Tim Tetrick) following his bid before going four-wide late on the turn.

In the stretch Crimson And Chrome, who was dismissed at 21-1, was full of pace while widest, and he blew by and opened up, winning by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:50 3/5. Highlandbeachlover was the second-place finisher, and Prince Of Tides wound up third.

“I knew we could win if the race had any pace, and they definitely put the numbers up,” Tetrick said. “My horse has been charging hard; he’s been waiting for this race. It feels good. I bred him, I own him, and it’s been cool to see him grow up.”

Crimson And Chrome is a Sweet Lou gelding trained by Jim King Jr. Crimson And Chrome made his seventh appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now pocketed $151,706. He returned $45.80 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--