The Meadows: Southwind Gendry stars in Arden Downs

Even though the track was sloppy due to heavy rain that fell before the race, Southwind Gendry turned in a stakes record 1:51 2/5 mile in one of the Arden Downs events for 2-year-old pacers that were held on Saturday's Adios undercard at The Meadows.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Southwind Gendry was second to Chase H Hanover (David Miller) at the 27 2/5 opening quarter in the final $19,896 Arden Downs contest for colts and geldings but moved to the lead beyond that marker. Southwind Gendry would get to the half in 56 4/5 and the three-quarters in 1:24 4/5, then snapped home in 26 3/5 to win by a length and a half. Chase H Hanover was second in a quality effort, and Capt Jack Hanover (Tim Tetrick) got third.

From the first crop of Always B Miki, Southwind Gendry is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, Knox Services Inc., and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Southwind Gendry, who was bred by Southwind Farms LLC. and went for $30,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, picked up his second win, both of which have come at The Meadows, and paid $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite.

"He's a little bit behind the rest of our colts, but as he figures it out, he'll be a good colt," said Burke. "We knew watching his first qualifier that he's something special."

Sire Sweet Lou swept the other two Arden Downs sections for colts and geldings and the one Arden Downs event for fillies.

Lou's Pearlman (Matt Kakaley) improved his record to four-for-four in the first tilt for the boys, stopping the clock in 1:52 2/5. He moved from third to first heading to the 57 4/5 half, stepped off three-quarters in 1:26, and sprinted home in 26 2/5 to win by 2 1/4 lengths over Captain Sleaze (Tetrick). Great Somewhere (D. Miller) finished in third.

"He has a lot of high speed; he's impressive," Kakaley said. "In my mind he's one of the best 2-year-olds out there. He's absolutely perfect to drive."

Another Burke pupil, Lou's Pearlman was bred and is co-owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Elizabeth Novak, and Howard Taylor is another co-owner. Lou's Pearlman, whose dam Lucy's Pearl earned over $341,000 and is a half-sister to top 3-year-old pacing filly Reflect With Me, has banked $79,412 to go with his unblemished mark and returned $2.40 to win as the 1-5 choice.

Hellabalou (Andrew McCarthy) led through panels of 27, 56 4/5, and 1:24 2/5 in the second Arden Downs dash for colts and geldings, but he would be passed by a first-over Sweet Angel Boy (Tetrick) coming off the last turn. Hellabalou didn't pack it in, though, as he responded to McCarthy's urging by re-rallying around Sweet Angel Boy in deep stretch on his way to the win by a neck in 1:53. Mikibytheseaside (Gingras) got third.

It was the first lifetime win for Hellabalou, a colt trained by Eddie Dennis for owner Eric Good. Hellabalou, bred by Andray Farm and Sergent Stables LLC., brought $42,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale and paid $12.40 to win as a 5-1 shot.

"He struggled getting off the track last week, and the vet thought it was the heat," Dennis said. "Once we got him cooled down, he was much better. He rebounded really good today."

Fillies competed in a single $35,690 Arden Downs race, and Uptown Hanover (Kakaley) crossed the wire as the winner from first-over in 1:53 1/5. However, she was off-stride for a short time on the last turn and caused interference to trailing horses, and that resulted in her being placed eighth following an inquiry. Fighting Evil (Mike Wilder), who had led through stations of 27 2/5, 57 4/5, and 1:24 4/5 before finishing a length and a quarter behind Uptown Hanover, was elevated to the victory, with Wicked Ways (Gingras) placed second and Southwind Olenna (McCarthy) moved up to third.

Fighting Evil is trained by Dane Snyder for owners Danielle Snyder and Jason Ash. Fighting Evil, who was bred by James Craparotta and Pat Berry and taken out of the 2019 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for $12,000, now has a pair of wins from three starts, and she returned $6.60 to win.

"Every once in a while, you get lucky," said Snyder. "She raced very good, but she was lost on the front end. She'd never been there before. She's not very big, and she has a lot to learn, but she has a big heart."

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--