Sporting a hood for the first time, RT Sun Poco atoned for a break last week when she came first over to capture a division of Wednesday’s opening leg of the Double Trouble, an early-closing series for three and four-year-old filly and mare trotters, at The Meadows

. Gaylewinds NY took the other $15,000 opening-leg division.

RT Sun Poco had been a virtual win machine, taking 16 of 18 career starts before her March 12 miscue. Trainer/driver Robert Rougeaux III rigged her with the hood and reaped immediate dividends. Third down the backside, RT Sun Poco brushed past 3-10 favourite Lucky Charm — on St. Patrick’s Day, of all things — and went on to defeat that rival by 3/4 lengths in 1:57, a lifetime mark. First Lady Two finished third.

Brocious Racing Stable owns RT Sun Poco, a four-year-old daughter of Yankee Paco-Sunfest.

Gaylewinds NY also was rebounding from a poor effort that saw her finish eighth with little apparent interest. In the Double Trouble, Dave Palone got her attention by sending her to the front, where she opened a daylight lead and survived the late rally of American Holiday. Gaylewinds NY prevailed in a career-best 1:58.4, a neck better than American Holiday, with Candy J third.

Kris Rickert trains Gaylewinds NY, a four-year-old daughter of Broadway Hall-Ada Winds, for Dale Wareham. It was one of three wins on the 13-race card for Palone.

(The Meadows)