GD Cool Otoole powered through the sloppy Lightning Lane to capture Wednesday’s (March 6) $13,514 opening leg of the Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. The series honours the memory of Donna Dunn, longtime Standardbred owner and the wife of the late Meadows breeder/owner/trainer/driver Walter “Boots” Dunn. 

While Deja Jade and the first-over Swartz Bros Emily duelled for the lead, GD Cool Otoole watched it all unfold until Ronnie Wrenn Jr. pointed her inside. The three-year-old daughter of Freaky Feet Pete-Plenty Otoole scored in 1:56, 1-1/4 lengths better than late-closing longshot Gamine, while Deja Jade saved show.

Lester Mullet trains GD Cool Otoole for Chris Hostetler. 

The Donna Dunn is one of eight spring series that The Meadows is featuring in March and April; the March events are for three- and four-year-olds while April’s series are for sophomores only. Two more series kick off on Thursday — the Mary Wohlmuth for filly and mare trotters and the Dale McConnell for trotting horses, colts and geldings. 

Aaron Merriman piloted five winners and Dave Palone three on the 13-race card.

Wednesday’s card also featured the debut of the Lucky7, a Pick-7 wager with a $1 minimum, a low 15 per cent takeout and carryovers of the entire net pool when no player correctly picks all seven winners. That was the case Wednesday, so Thursday’s Lucky7 beginning in race three offers a $352.75 carryover with a guarantee of $3,000. First post Thursday is 12:45 p.m.

(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)