On a day when The Meadows resumed racing following a two-week hiatus and celebrated the opening of its permanent casino, Whybabywhy provided some fireworks of her own

. She captured the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot, lighting up the tote board at 22-1.

Trailing by 10-1/2 lengths at the half, Whybabywhy launched a ground-saving move for Dick Stillings that carried her to within four lengths of the lead at the top of the lane. Even there, her mission seemed impossible, as the leader, Afternoon Dreams, had won five straight earlier this year and was coming off a fine third-place finish in the Classic Oaks at Dover Downs.

But Whybabywhy took to the sloppy going, soaring by to down Afternoon Dreams by a length in 1:57, with Whotookwhat finishing third. Mark Goldberg trains Whybabywhy, a five-year-old daughter of Padre Hanover-Beechwood Miranda, for Steve R. McDaniel, Jr.

Stillings, Tony Hall and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 14-race card.

(The Meadows)