Mistress Valentine followed Whata Donato around the track, then blew by her in the lane to capture Tuesday’s $22,500 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.
Mike Wilder hustled Mistress Valentine to the lead, and the pair settled in behind Whata Donato, who was trying to overcome post 9. The six-year-old daughter of Master Glide-Patsys Valentine pulled the pocket before the final turn and drew off to down Whata Donato by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:56.3. The ground-saving Ajuama finished third.
Tyler Stillings trains Mistress Valentine, who extended her career bankroll to $239,479, and owns with Rags To Riches Of PA.
Wilder also was prominent In Tuesday’s co-feature, the $18,000 Winners Over Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, when he guided Tall Cotton to victory off a layoff of nearly 4-1/2 months. Tall Cotton, who shares the all-age track record of 1:51.3 on the trot, triumphed in 1:56, a neck better than TSM Photo Bugger. Classicality earned show.
Ron Burke conditions Tall Cotton, who soared over $600,000 in lifetime earnings, for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Edwin Gold and Howard Taylor.
(The Meadows)