The Meadows: Sons of Somebeachsomewhere strike in Keystone Classic

The Meadows played host to a pair of $43,450 Keystone Classic divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers on Saturday afternoon, and it would be Normandy Beach and Photobombr Hanover, both by Somebeachsomewhere, emerging victorious.

In the first grouping Summer Side (Ray Schnittker) had control through fractions of 27 2/5, 55, and 1:22 3/5, but Normandy Beach (Matt Kakaley), who had come first-over out of third nearing three-quarters, overhauled the pace-setter in the lane and then held off Mac's Jackpot (Aaron Merriman) to win by a head in a career-best 1:51 1/5. Summer Side held on to finish third.

“I’ve always liked this colt,” Kakaley said of Normandy Beach, who earned $160,369 at two but just more than half that amount this year. “I guess the 3-year-old season didn’t really go as planned, but he still has a chance to make some money with the late races.”

Ron Burke trains Normandy Beach for owner W.J. Donovan. Normandy Beach has three wins this year, five career victories, and he has earned $247,227 lifetime. He was sent off as the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.60 to win.

Q's Cruise (Mike Wilder) was going for his fourth straight victory in the other section, and he would lead the way at the 26 3/5 opening quarter, the 54 3/5 half, and the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters, with a first-over Mac Attack (Merriman) only a head back at three-quarters.

Mac Attack and Q's Cruise continued to battle around the far turn, but Q's Cruise eventually rebuffed him and regained a clear lead in the lane. However, 14-1 shot Photobombr Hanover (Jim Pantaleano) was on the move three-wide after tracking Mac Attack's cover, and he would overtake Q's Cruise in the shadow of the wire, scoring by a neck in 1:50 2/5. Mac Attack wound up third.

“He looks on paper like a very strong horse, and he showed up today,” Pantaleano said. “Having live cover was good. A half in 54 4/5 is a pretty good stinger, even for those good horses.”

Photobombr Hanover is trained by Tom Fanning for owners Howard Taylor, Susan Kajfasz and Fanning Racing LLC. Photobombr Hanover, who shows a bankroll of $145,397 is now a two-time winner in 2017, and he has six wins in his life. He returned $31.40 to win.

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--