Wild Wild Western won for the seventh time in his last eight starts with a front-end victory in Friday’s $16,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
The 3-5 favourite, Wild Wild Western grabbed the lead from post four in a snappy :26.2. Once Brady Brown gave him a :30.1 second-quarter breather, there was little chance he could be passed. The five-year-old son of Western Ideal-Caila Fra scored in 1:52.2, a length better than the rallying Torrin Hanover. The first-over The Wall completed the ticket.
Norm Parker trains Wild Wild Western, who now has banked $393,957, for Jacobs Creek Racing, Andrew Altobelli and John Deters. Wild Wild Western’s only recent loss came in the slop in an October 29 Open at Hoosier Park.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and Brown joined trainers Ron Burke and Marcus Marashian with three wins each on the 12-race card.
Also on Friday, The Meadows and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) dedicated a race to the memory of Eric Ledford, top harness driver who died last month at the age of 50 and who raced the latter part of his career at The Meadows. Present for the Eric Ledford Memorial winner's circle ceremony were family members Noah, Alexa and Tonya Ledford.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday when the program features a $1,533.01 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(MSOA)