Dismissed at 10-1 in his debut at The Meadows, Tuneariffic swooped the field around the far turn and went on to score the upset in Tuesday’s $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace
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Although he had won five of his last six at Batavia Downs, Scioto Downs and the Wooster fair, Tuneariffic was lightly regarded in The Meadows’ top pace; indeed, when he was last in the field of six at the three-quarters, that opinion seemed justified.
But when J.D. Wengerd moved the seven-year-old Tune Town-Dulcinea Esprit gelding wide round the final turn, he responded with a :28-second closing quarter and triumphed by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.2, lowering his lifetime mark a full second. Entrymates Here We Go Again and Code Word finished second and third, respectively.
Johnny Yoder owns and trains Tuneariffic, who pushed his career bankroll to $122,354.
Eric Ledford drove four winners and Dave Palone three on the 14-race card while trainer Jason Robinson and owner Robert Main teamed for a triple. With his victory behind Eagle Dream in the fourth race, Palone reached another milestone in his Hall of Fame Career: 20 consecutive years with at least 500 wins at The Meadows.
(The Meadows)