Racing off an 18-week layoff, Thoughtyoudlikeit got the cover trip he needed, shooting the Lightning Lane to capture Friday’s $17,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life Pace at The Meadows.

Thoughtyoudlikeit, who last performed on October 9, stalked the leader, Lincolnjames, through mid-stretch, where he inched away and downed that rival by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.3 over a “good” surface. The first-over The Dark Shadow finished third.

Ronnie Wrenn Jr. drove for trainer Randy Bendis; that duo teamed for three wins on the 10-race card, and Wrenn picked up two more victories late to lift his total to five.

Tom Pollack and Bendis own Thoughtyoudlikeit, a six-year-old Ponder-Give The Gift gelding bred in Ontario by Robert McIntosh Stables and C S X Stables.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Saturday, first post 1:05 p.m.

(With files from The Meadows)