Blue Ivy seized the lead early and was just as strong late, clicking off a :27.3 final quarter en route to a 1:51.3 victory in Tuesday’s $19,300 Filly & Mare Open Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Although Blue Ivy didn’t need any help to reach the winner’s circle, she got a bit anyway when her chief potential challenger, the pocket-sitting Rock It Out, broke stride in the stretch. Ourlittlemiracle shot the Lightning Lane for second, three-quarters of a length back, while the first-over Continualou completed the ticket.

Aaron Merriman drove Blue Ivy, a six-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-All Blue who won for the 42nd time in 103 lifetime starts and lifted her career earnings to $667,080, for trainer Bill Bercury and owner Renee Bercury. It was one of three victories for Merriman on the 13-race card.

During the Tuesday card, Hollywood Casino at The Meadows and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) honoured Ronnie Wrenn Jr. for achieving 7,000 career driving wins. Wrenn, who splits his time between The Meadows and Ohio tracks, notched the milestone victory Monday at MGM Northfield.

​Kim Hankins, MSOA executive director, and Scott Lishia, director of racing for The Meadows, congratulate Ronnie Wrenn Jr. for his 7,000th win.

Wrenn said he never envisioned such success in a career that wasn’t his first choice as a youth.

“When I started racing, I never thought it would come to this,” he said. “I thought I would drive a few horses in amateur races while finishing school. I was pursuing a degree in Criminal Law.”

But after several years in several colleges, where he also was a varsity baseball player, Wrenn realized where his true passion was.

“I was like most young guys in this business. As soon as racing gets in your blood, that’s all you want to do.”

For the future, Wrenn has a specific goal: more starts in more prestigious races.

“I really want to drive more Grand Circuit races and fewer overnights,” he said. “I’m driving for some of the connections that maybe will put me on the map a little bit.”

Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday when the 13-race program features a pair of carryovers: $891.46 in the final-race Super Hi-5, $869.08 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (Race 4). First post is 12:45 p.m.

(MSOA)