For the third straight week, Guido Di bested archrival Tequila Talkin in the $26,667 Open Handicap Trot on Thursday, Aug. 1 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. In each of Guido Di’s victories, Tequila Talkin has finished second.

Tequila Talkin grabbed the early lead but released Guido Di before the quarter. Then came a surprising, extended quarter-pole move by Commander Frank that shook up racing strategy for the other drivers. Tequila Talkin was forced to come first over for Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. while the pocket-sitting Guido Di and “Downtown” Brady Brown had unfettered access to the Lightning Lane.

They used it effectively, defeating Tequila Talkin by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52.1, a tick shy of his lifetime mark. Saint K rallied for show.

Steve Schoeffel trains Guido Di, a five-year-old Wishing Stone-Focus On Me gelding who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $362,897 for Kathy Schoeffel, Marian Schilling and Lewis Falton.

Mike Wilder piloted four winners, including a pair for trainer Jessica Roegner, on the 13-race card.

Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Friday when the program features a pair of stakes for freshman colt and gelding trotters: a Pennsylvania Sires Stake with $160,336 USD split over two divisions and four $20,000 USD divisions of the PA Stallion Series. First post is 5:10 p.m.

(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)