The Hazelton followed live first-over cover, then swept past in the lane to score in Wednesday (Nov. 29) afternoon's $21,200 Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Not only was the start a debut in the Burke Stable, the sophomore Muscle Mass gelding made his first parimutuel race on U.S. soil a winning one after all 18 previous on track appearances took place in Ontario.
As the only three-year-old in the field, The Hazelton was fifth when Dave Palone moved him off the cones behind the first-up Windsong Patriot. The pair quickly gobbled up the weary leader, Chin Chin Hall, but The Hazelton swung wide and left Windsong Patriot in his wake. The Muscle Mass-Too Good For You gelding triumphed by a length in 1:53.4, matching his career best. Joygo and Tequila Talkin rallied from far back to finish second and third, respectively.
Ron Burke trains The Hazelton, who pushed his lifetime bankroll to $208,970, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The Hazelton boasted 10 wins, four seconds, and one third in 18 starts on Canadian soil and now moved his American stats to one-for-one.
Hunter Myers and Palone each collected three wins on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday (Nov. 30) when the 13-race program features a $1,022.70 carryover in the Early Pentafecta (race four). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(With files from The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)