Papis Pistol takes aim in Kindergarten conquest

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Following a lifetime-best 1:49.3 score in his final Kindergarten Series preliminary a week ago, Papis Pistol proved every bit as dominant in Saturday’s (Nov. 9) $148,500 Kindergarten final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings at the Meadowlands with a facile 1:50.3 victory.

Driver Andy Miller was content to let the Papi Rob Hanover-Bang Bang colt settle just off the front flight in the race’s early stages, floating into a four-hole tuck as Tom Horn (driven by David Miller) led early before yielding to Manolete (Scott Zeron) just beyond a :27 first quarter. Papis Pistol got the green light from Miller with five-eighths to go, and he brushed authoritatively to the fore approaching the :55.3 half and maintained an uncontested lead through the far turn.

“I was letting him settle a little bit, and then I moved him up the backside,” said Miller of his early strategy. “He just cruised along; he was well within himself finishing, too.”

After hitting three-quarters in 1:23.1 without a threat in sight and the first-over Attaboychet stalled off the home turn, Papis Pistol kicked clear of Manolete in upper stretch and widened his lead to three lengths at the winning post while in hand. Manolete, off the 3-1 second choice, was a no-match second to the 1-5 favorite; early leader Tom Horn finished third.

“I think [Zeron, with Manolete] was willing to take the best trip and take a shot at me in the lane,” Miller continued. “But my horse was really strong…. I was letting him pace through there. Nobody was getting to my wheel, so I let him go where he was comfortable.”

Sam DePinto trains Papis Pistol for Shannon DePinto, Chris Arvanitis and Anthony Perretti. Now a four-time winner from 13 starts, Papis Pistol increased his career earnings to $155,821 with the Kindergarten championship. He paid $2.60 to win.