Silverhill Blaze stalked the leader from the pocket and then roared by in the lane to pull off a 33-1 shocker in a division of the Holiday Claiming Services for $20,000 claiming colt, horse and gelding pacers at The Meadows on Saturday, Dec. 15. Reggie Raider took the other $15,000 opening-leg division.
Marvalous Artist led the field through the final turn but tired in the sloppy going. Dan Rawlings guided Silverhill Blaze outside and the six-year-old Mach Three-Southwind Miranda gelding had little trouble going by and scoring in 1:53.3. Beginners Luck shot the passing lane for second while Marvalous Artist saved show.
John Sullivan trains Silverhill Blaze, who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $167,744, for Chris Drongosky.
Reggie Raider, a four-year-old McArdle-Miss JC Raider gelding, made up seven lengths over the back half to win in 1:55.2 for Dave Palone, trainer Spencer Kahrig and owner Kahrig Racing Stable. Lyons King was two lengths back in second with Class Six third.
Also kicking off Saturday was a Holiday Claiming Series for $10,000 claiming colt, horse and gelding pacers. Doctor RJ and Fairytale Prince captured the $8,000 splits.
The Meadows this week launched six Holiday Claiming Series that conclude on a special New Year’s Eve card that also features the career finale of Foiled Again, the richest Standardbred all time with earnings exceeding $7.5 million. First post Dec. 31 is 5:30 PM.
Palone and Ron Burke each enjoyed a four-bagger on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, Dec. 17 when the program includes a $1,254 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5.
(With files from The Meadows)