Surreal Ideal and Benjamin Hanover each continued his domination of the pacing and trotting elite, respectively, at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, each scoring at 1-9 on Friday, Nov. 15 in an Open Handicap event.
Although Surreal Ideal was parked by Gung Ho through a 27.2 opening panel over a sloppy surface in the $29,444 Open Handicap Pace, he had enough in the tank to hold off the challenger by three parts of a length in 1:51.4, securing his fourth consecutive victory. Dragon City finished third.
Hunter Myers drove the six-year-old So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenight gelding, who lifted his lifetime earnings to $377,969, for trainer Vernon Beachy and owners 518 Group LLC and Gitup Racing.
There were no such close calls for Benjamin Hanover, who rolled to the point from post seven for Aaron Merriman and widened his margin throughout to take the $29,444 Open Handicap Trot. The four-year-old Sebastian K S-By A Neck Hanover gelding triumphed under wraps in 1:54, 4-1/4 lengths better than Smoking Jet, with Good Feeln To Know third.
Sarah Andrews trains Benjamin Hanover (pictured above), who boosted his career bankroll to $180,996, and owns with Angela Cornell.
Dave Palone, Merriman and Myers each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday, Nov. 20 when the program features a $2,260.05 carryover in the Early Pentafecta (Race 4). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)