Whata Donato and Count Me In, a pair of streaking horses, captured Tuesday’s co-featured trots — each in front-end fashion — at The Meadows.
In the $20,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap, Whata Donato had little trouble collecting her second straight victory — and fourth in her last six starts — when she sprang to the lead from post 8 for trainer/driver Doug Snyder and scored by two lengths in 1:57. Stablemates ER Ellie and Mistress Valentine finished second and third, respectively.
Frank Poerio Jr. campaigns Whata Donato, a five-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover-Donven Promise who boosted her career bankroll to $197,391.
The track condition was downgraded from “good” to “sloppy” well before the $18,000 Preferred Handicap, and Dave Palone had to coax Count Me In through a :30.2 final quarter over the tiring surface. But the six-year-old Full Count-Howl gelding recorded his third win in the last four outings, prevailing in 1:56.1. TSM Photo Bugger was second, while the pocket-sitting Andoversure saved show.
Ron Burke conditions Count Me In, who now boasts lifetime earnings of $374,469, for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, M1 Stable and Michelle Yanek.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, The Meadows will offer a $10,000-guaranteed total pool for its Pick 5 wager as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Initiative. The Meadows added the “instant” guarantee after Tuesday’s Pick 5 was uncovered, resulting in a two-day carryover of $3,123.47.
Minimum wager for the Pick 5 (Races 11-15) is 50 cents. Since Pennsylvania law requires a minimum per-race wager of $2, a player wagering at the 50-cent level must bet at least four tickets.
First post for Wednesday’s program is 12:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)