Toms Ok Lady was the widest and fastest in a stirring three-way stretch duel as she captured the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot — her third consecutive victory — Friday at The Meadows.
Sitting sixth at the half, Toms Ok Lady used the effective cover of Im Justa Lady to assume a striking position, but it wasn’t clear that either would catch the determined Dynamite Diva, a 17-1 outsider, on the lead. Dave Palone swung Toms Ok Lady wide for the drive, and the five-year-old daughter of Inquirer-This Gals Ok prevailed by a head over Dynamite Diva in 1:57.1. Im Justa Lady was another head back in third.
Ron Burke trains Toms Ok Lady, who won for the 11th time this year, for Sylvia Burke, Bethann Palone, M1 Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. It was one of five winning drives on the 15-race card for Palone.
In the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, Spring Break and Mike Wilder cruised on the front end, scoring in 1:53.3. Vysoke Tatry closed from far back to finish second by 5-3/4 lengths while a hard-used Jans Luck was third.
Dan Altmeyer trains Spring Break for Joann and Joe Thomson. The win pushed the career bankroll for the four-year-old daughter of Dream Away-Siobhan to $298,071.
(The Meadows)