Burke Fillies To Face Off For Dunn Sweep
Mattwestern continued to roll through the Donna Dunn Memorial Pace, winning her third straight Friday in the series for three and four-year-old fillies and mares at The Meadows.
Although Mattwestern began the series off a five-month layoff, she has dominated the event, taking her three splits by a combined nine and a half lengths.
On Friday, she got away a leisurely fifth, brushed to the lead past the quarter for Dave Palone and scored by three and three-quarter lengths in 1:54.2. Lil Miss Snowflake shot the Lightning Lane for second while R Marie Hanover finished third.
Ron Burke trains the three-year-old daughter of Western Terror-Mattonement for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Not to be outdone, Mattwestern’s stablemate, Save My Dragon, also made it three straight in the Donna Dunn with a facile victory for Palone in 1:54.4. The pocket-sitting Iwannabejustlikeu was second, three and a quarter lengths back, while Posey Tina rallied for show.
Duke Sugg, Randall Van Hutchison and Robert Hutchison own the three-year-old daughter of Dragon Again-Save My Life.
The Burke fillies are headed for the $20,000-added series final Friday, March 29.
In the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot, Action Broadway moved ever close to millionaire status as she rallied for a neck victory over Trotslikethewind in 1:55.1. RT Sun Poco was third.
Eric Ledford drove the six0year-old daughter of Broadway Hall-Photo With Molly for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owner Ken Sommer. The 2011 U.S. Mare Trotter of the Year, Action Broadway now boasts $987,253 in career earnings.
Palone drove four winners on the 12-race card.
(With files from The Meadows)