The Meadows: Palone praises Saint Louie after PaSS triumph

Facing stakes company for the first time, Saint Louie backed down the field like a seasoned pro, held off the 1-2 favorite and scored in Saturday's Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Father Stosh and Spitfire Oversees also captured divisions of the $142,946 event, known as the Hickory Smoke, for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Saturday's sub-feature, a $60,000 PA Stallion Series stake for sophomore colt and gelding trotters, also provided plenty of excitement, as Ronnie Wrenn Jr. swept the three splits en route to a six-victory day.

Saint Louie had won two straight overnights but was stepping way up for Dave Palone and Ake Svanstedt, who trains the Father Patrick-Emmylou Who gelding for Ake Svanstedt Inc., Young Guns and Joe Sbrocco. When Saint Louie walked the second panel in 29 1/5, he had plenty in the tank to turn back the bid of the pocket-sitting Once In A Lifetime - Pennsylvania's freshman champ, no less - and down him by a neck in 1:54.

"I thought he was the sleeper of the day," Palone said. "His greatest attribute is, he's so handy. When he was able to cross over and they left him alone like that, I knew it would take a big number to finish him off. We took the plugs out, and he wasn't letting that horse get by."

Father Stosh found himself in a position young trotters often consider uncomfortable - between horses vying for the early lead. But he crossed over without incident for Wrenn Jr., released the three-wide Commander Frank and kicked by in the lane to triumph in a career-best 1:53 4/5. Chamba finished second, a length in arrears, while a weary Commander Frank saved show. Jill Roland conditions the son of Father Patrick-Ebbtide Hall for Bernard O'Brien.

"When I scored him down, he actually made a break, so I was a little hesitant about leaving too fast with him," Wrenn Jr. said. "He handled the first turn well, and once I secured the two-hole, I knew he would give me a big effort later in the mile."

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Scott Zeron piloted Khaosan Road to victory in the Battle of Bunker Hill at Plainridge, but for Saturday's PASS, Zeron chose over that one in favor of Spitfire Oversees, a son of International Moni-Legal Lady that winning trainer Megan Scran has been nursing through a bout of sickness.

Zeron knew what he was doing, as he confidently moved Spitfire Oversees first-up from third, and the duo rolled past Khaosan Road and the highly-regarded Herodotus to prevail in 1:53 2/5, a lifetime mark. Herodotus was 1 3/4 lengths back in second, with Khaosan Road third.

"I have a lot of respect for those two horses I was following, especially the one I've been driving all year," Zeron said. "To come first-up and draw away, it was good."

The stallion series splits went to Grizz Wyllie, Tailgate Buzz and Austral Hanover, all of whom had the services of Wrenn Jr. Wrenn Jr. completed his fantastic day with a pair of overnight wins to match his four stakes victories.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday when the 12-race card features a pair of carryovers: $1,015.40 in the Early Pentafecta (race four) and $443.73 in the Pick 5 (race eight). First post is 12:45 PM.

--press release (The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)--