Prior to Saturday’s $99,370 Currier & Ives at The Meadows, trainer Chris Beaver predicted that his horse Perron would win some big races this year by roughing it on the outside. It was a bold forecast since Perron, the reigning Ohio champion, was winless in five starts this year.

But Beaver’s crystal ball was in focus, as Perron moved first over to wear down Whiskey Blu and capture the prestigious test for three-year-old trotters. Panzano, also trained by Beaver, finished third.

When Whiskey Blu quarter-poled to the top, he was able to discourage any challenges until the three-quarters where Perron took up the chase. Winning driver Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. indicated that was about the best scenario he could draw up for the My MVP-Long Island Tea gelding.

“The four hole is a good leaving spot here, and that’s about as good as he can leave,” Wrenn said. “I knew I would have to grind it first over, but he can go all day long. He’s just not super-handy. He’ll eye a horse down, and he just doesn’t quit.”

Perron and Whiskey Blu dueled through the stretch until Perron inched away to down his rival by a half-length in a career best 1:54.

Beaver said Perron has about a five-week gap in his schedule before his next engagement, an Ohio Sires Stake leg, and that he might look for a race for Perron or give him time off and qualify him for his return.

Perron lifted his career bankroll to $272,389 and helped Beaver extend his distinguished record in the Currier & Ives, which has been contested since 1975. Beaver won the 2017 edition with Fraser Ridge, took a 2009 heat with Triumphant Caviar and captured a 2014 division with Il Sogno Dream, who scored in a stake-record 1:53.2.

Dave Palone was aboard a third Beaver-trained Currier & Ives contestant, Kildare King, who broke stride early and often. Palone managed to enjoy a pretty good day anyway, winning six of the 13 races on the card.

Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday when the program features a $12,467.41 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m.

BILL DAUGHERTY, JR., JERRY KEHM WIN GLADA SPLITS

The Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) brought its road show to The Meadows on Saturday, and Bill “The Flying Antique” Daugherty, Jr. and Jerry “Duke of Oil” Kehm emerged with victories in the $9,300 divisions.

Daugherty’s victory with Wimborne Hanover may have been the more improbable of the two, as he had intended to drop the nine-year-old Muscle Massive-Wherly gelding in a standard overnight event. When that race didn’t fill, he opted for Plan B.

“I put him in here to make two divisions,” Daugherty said. “I think it’s good for the sport in these amateur races. I thought we’d clear a little easier. We had a little bit more late, but I’m glad the wire came up when it did.”

Wimborne Hanover needed most of the final quarter to overtake the favourite, Tom “Mayhem” Svrcek (Berkery J), but he finally inched away to down him by half a length in 1:57. Daugherty trains Wimborne Hanover, who pushed his career bankroll to $261,444, for Susan Daugherty.

Stephen “You’re Never Too” Oldford (A Royal Line) and Pete Stratton (Cash For Gold) completed the ticket.

Once Kehm hustled Harness AM to the point from post three, that split was pretty much over. The four-year-old daughter of Father Patrick-Noblesse Blue Chip drew off at will to defeat Floyd “The Roper” Rhodes (Back Door Man) by 6-1/2 lengths in 1:56. They were followed by “Chicago” George Bonomo (Time Outa Jail) and John “The Greek” Sikaras, who got a check on his 71st birthday with Explosive Leggs.

Tyler Stillings trains Harness AM for Rags to Riches of PA.

(MSOA)