The Meadows: Perfect Sting placed first in PA Sire Stakes race
Perfect Sting, the reigning Dan Patch awardee and 2-5 favorite, got his win in Saturday's $148,332 Pennsylvania Sire Stake for 3-year-old male pacers at The Meadows, but it was unlike anything his backers or connections envisioned.
The pocket-sitting Rockyroad Hanover out-kicked Perfect Sting in the Lightning Lane and crossed the wire first, half a length ahead of the champ.
But Rockyroad Hanover was briefly rough gaited through the final turn and, following a lengthy inquiry, the judges ruled that the apparent winner interfered with Southwind Gendry. Lou's Pearlman and Literl Lad Hanover, all trying to rally outside. Rockyroad Hanover was disqualified and placed back to fifth while Perfect Sting was awarded the victory and a time of 1:49 4/5. Southwind Gendry and Lou's Pearlman were promoted to second and third, respectively.
Perfect Sting, a son of Always B Miki-Shebestingin, now has won 12 of 13 career starts and $629,997 for trainer Joe Holloway and owners Brittany Farms and Val D'Or Farms.
The outcome was especially disappointing for Rockyroad Hanover, a son of Captaintreacherous-Romantic Moment whom trainer Tony Alagna had dropped to the PA Stallion Series this year for a jolt of confidence. The colt's driver, Dexter Dunn, said the strategy worked.
"He's been racing really super, and his gate speed got him in a good position." Dunn said. "You never know if you'll get by a great horse like Perfect Sting."
Dunn reacted stoically to the DQ.
"It is what it is," he said. "The judges made the call, that's what it is."
Prior to the judges' decision, Holloway indicated that Perfect Sting had "no excuses" for not holding on, particularly after winning driver David Miller gave him a 29 second-quarter breather.
"We should have won, but we came up a little bit flat," Holloway said. "I don't know whether it was his hard race last week or the ship out here. He should've been better. He just got out-kicked."
With two wins and as many seconds in PaSS preliminary legs, Southwind Gendry has wrapped up a berth in the $250,000 championship. Perfect Sting has a win and a second in the only two legs he contested; he seems likely to qualify for the final but will have to sweat out the official point count.
--press release (The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)--