The Meadows: Whats The Word enters track's record book

Whats The Word broke the stakes record of 1:56 when he claimed the first of four $42,488 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes splits for 2-year-old colt trotters on Saturday afternoon at The Meadows in 1:55 2/5.

Racing in the first division, Whats The Word came first-over out of third past the 57 3/5 half, then briefly dropped back into the pocket behind Explosive Lindy (Andrew McCarthy) past the 1:26 4/5 three-quarters when Spee Club (Aaron Merriman) retreated out of the pocket. Whats The Word would be guided back to the outside on the turn, and then he powered past a badly bearing-in Explosive Lindy in the lane. From there Whats The Word poured it on, going on to defeat Explosive Lindy by 7 1/4 lengths, with Can't Afford It (Marcus Miller) up for third. There was an inquiry into Explosive Lindy's actions in the stretch, but it was determined there were no violations.

The 1:55 2/5 clocking lowered the previous record that had belonged to Stormin Normand (2011) and Snowstorm Hanover (2016).

Whats The Word, a Donato Hanover colt, is trained by Staffan Lind for owners Arden Homestead Stable and Janice Connor. Whats The Word, an $18,000 Standardbred Horse Sale buy, has won three times from four starts, and he has now earned $35,744. Bred by Fred Hertrich, Whats The Word is out of the Striking Sahbra mare Your Word Is Good, a half-sister to the likes of Good Sound Advice (Kadabra, $319,427). The 4-5 favorite, Whats The Word paid $3.80 to win.

Trainer Jim Campbell annexed two of the other three sections with horses owned by Fashion Farms LLC. Their first win came in the second flight when 18-1 shot Crystal Fashion (Tim Tetrick) rallied in the stretch after a second-over trip to prevail by half a length over 3-5 favorite Bautista (Yannick Gingras) in 1:57 1/5. Garnet (Matt Kakaley), who led through panels of 29 1/5, 58 4/5, and 1:27 4/5, held third.

The victorious gelding by Cantab Hall broke his maiden in his third attempt, and he has now banked $28,094. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., Crystal Fashion was a $100,000 purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale, and his dam Window Willow (Tagilabue) is a full sister to Lolique ($1,091,435). Crystal Fashion returned $38.40 to win.

Muscle M Up was Campbell and Fashion Farms LLC.'s other winner, taking the final sire stakes test in 1:57 2/5. Just like his stablemate, he worked out a second-over trip for driver David Miller, then got around Quality Kemp (Kakaley), who had provided the cover, to score by a neck in 1:57 1/5. Maxus (Gingras), the 3-5 favorite, was in the pocket through fractions of 28 4/5, 59, and 1:28 1/5, and came through the passing lane to take third.

Fashion Farms LLC. also bred Muscle M Up, a Muscle Hill colt who is perfect in two tries to go with $27,744 in earnings. He is the first foal out of Fashion Athena (Broadway Hall), who won multiple stakes and $308,290 in her career. The 7-2 second choice, Muscle M Up paid $9.40 to win.

Lawmaker (Anthony MacDonald) rounded out the stakes winners for the day, bagging the third grouping in 1:56. He led at the 28 4/5 front quarter, then yielded to 4-5 favorite You Know You Do (Gingras) before the 57 4/5 half. You Know You Do would go on to hit three-quarters in 1:27 3/5, but MacDonald angled his charge back to the outside in the lane, and he would go by the public choice on his way to a 2 1/4 length tally. Toast Of Lindy (Andy Miller) collected third.

Andrew Harris trains Lawmaker, a colt by Muscle Massive, for Thestable Lawmaker Group. Lawmaker made his first appearance in the winner's circle in his second attempt, and he has now put away $28,744. Taken out of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for $20,000, Lawmaker is out of Pretty Amigo (Amigo Hall), a full sister to Friendly Amigo ($557,907). Lawmaker was the 6-1 third choice and returned $14.80 to win.