Ideal Observation, aggressively taking advantage of the early break of 3-5 favourite Misster Wilker, moved right to the front and didn’t stop until she scored a 7-1 upset victory in the $25,700 final of the Donna Dunn Memorial series for freshman pacing fillies Thursday at The Meadows
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Misster Wilker handily swept both series preliminary legs, forcing Ideal Observation to settle for second each time. But when Eric Ledford behind Ideal Observation noticed the favorite on the gallop for Dick Stillings, he adjusted his strategy accordingly.
“I didn’t think we could beat Misster Wilker,” Ledford said. “I tried sitting on her bumper twice, and she left me both times. But Dickie was beside me at the gate, so I knew he’d made a break. I threw every option that I’d thought of before right out the window because I had no intention of being on the front. That’s why we race them.”
Ideal Observation tired late, coming the final panel in 30.4, but she held on to triumph in 1:56.3, lowering her lifetime mark 3.1 seconds. Team Spirit was a length back in second, with O Lucky Me third and Misster Wilker fourth.
The victory also surprised Steve Owens, who trains the daughter of Western Ideal Observe Me for Winbak Farm.
“We thought there were two better than us in there and we would try and close late for third money,” Owens said. “Those other two didn’t race very well, and we hung in there. We raced about the same mile we’ve been racing, and it was good enough.”
He said Ideal Observation has completed her harness racing schedule for the year.
In the $12,000 Dunn consolation, Jen Finn recovered from a brief early break and erased a 9-1/2-length deficit to prevail in 1:56.3, 3-3/4 lengths better than Kenna Lyn. McUltra completed the ticket. Aaron Merriman drove for trainer Douglas Hunt and owner David Finfrock. The time was a career best for the daughter of Ft Apache Hanover-Annie Finn, who has won five of 12 lifetime outings.
Tony Hall drove three winners on the 16-race card.
(The Meadows)