Making his second start in five days, Knocking Around wore down Lord Of Winterfell with a sustained uncovered bid to take Friday’s $18,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
Lord Of Winterfell got the jump on the field when he pulled the pocket down the backside and opened a 1-1/2-length lead. But Knocking Around gained steadily and defeated Lord of Winterfell by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53, with Royaltyhasarrived third.
David McNeight III piloted the nine-year-old Western Terror-So Completely gelding, who has earned $442,127 for trainer David McNeight Jr. and owner Courtney McNeight.
Dave Palone and Jim Pantaleano each collected three wins on the 13-race program.
In other highlights of the week at The Meadows:
New year, same old Southwind Amazon
The calendar may have lost a page, but Southwind Amazon hasn’t lost a thing. The nine-year-old Cam Luck-Artoonist gelding, harness racing’s “winningest” horse in 2018 with 22 victories, captured his season’s debut in 1:51.2 in Monday’s $18,000 Preferred Handicap Pace. Vague Traces and Knocking Around chased him home.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. drove the winner, who now boasts career earnings of $765,547, for trainer Paul Holzman and owner Ameer Najor.
It was one of three wins Monday for Rawlings. Also of note was the 51-1 shocker pulled off by Grand Priority for Brad Provost and owner/trainer William Provost.
Fox Valley Charm earns hard-fought initial 2019 win
Speaking of big years in 2018, Fox Valley Charm had one, winning 10 races in elite company. She kicked off 2019 with yet another victory but was all out to secure it, parrying the determined challenge of Sansovina Hanover and downing her by a neck in 1:53.3 in Tuesday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace. Magic Forces completed the ticket.
Palone drove the seven-year-old daughter of Yankee Skyscaper-Fox Valley Cherub, who lifted her career bankroll to $386,460, for trainer Dirk Simpson and owner Peter Karras.
Mike Wilder and Pantaleano each fashioned a triple on the 12-race program.
Palone wins six, including feature with Barn Bella
Palone got one for the thumb Wednesday... and one for the other hand when he garnered six wins, including the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot with Barn Bella, a top mare who’d been experiencing gaiting problems. Trainer Ed Zubkoff, Jr. restored her hopples, and the five-year-old daughter of Conway Hall-Bravissima was flat and fast, erasing a 5-1/2-length deficit to defeat Dirty Secret by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:56.4 over a “good” surface. A rallying Bessie was third.
Brookside Stables campaigns Barn Bella, who sports a gaudy lifetime bankroll of $751,350.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the program features a $990.40 carryover in the final race Super Hi-5. First post 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)