Continuing his impressive roll, Dapper Dude rode a pocket trip to victory in Friday’s $18,000 Preferred Pace at The Meadows, giving the 10-year-old millionaire four wins and three seconds in his last seven starts.
The front-ending Stride Of Pride didn’t go down easily, clicking off the last quarter in :27.2. But under the encouragement of Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., Dapper Dude went a tick faster, downing Stride Of Pride by a neck in 1:52.1 over a “good” surface. The first-over New Evidence completed the ticket. Tim Twaddle trains the son of The Panderosa-Dress To Suggest, whose career earnings now total $1,333,270, for Micki Rae Stables. Aaron Merriman, trainer Ron Burke and Wrenn each fashioned a triple on the 13-raee card.
Seizing the opportunity when the heavy favourite broke near the quarter, Maewegonow powered to the lead from third and pulled off the 8-1 upset in Wednesday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot.
Once 1-2 favourite Misslarose jumped it off and cleared to the outside, Tony Hall had Maewegonow on the move. The five-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Mauresmo triumphed in 1:55.4 over the rallying Cherry Pie, with the pocket-sitting Dirty Secret third. Richard Perfido conditions Maewegonow, who lifted her lifetime bankroll to $294,051, for Thomas Mattingly.
In Wednesday’s companion feature, the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, Medusa overwhelmed Camera Lady with a quick backside burst and went on to a convincing victory in 1:55.4. Keystone Riptide was second, beaten 1-3/4 lengths, with Circle The Page third. Camera Lady finished last in the field of four and saw her three-race winning streak snapped.
Hall steered Medusa for trainer Randy Bendis, who owns the eight-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Mythical with Pollack Racing LLC. Medusa now boasts $881,743 in career earnings. Merriman and Hall each enjoyed a four-bagger on the 13-race card.
Rebounding from an uncharacteristically dull performance, Ellasen stalked Touchamatic from the pocket, then brushed by her late to capture Tuesday’s feature, a $13,000 Filly & Mare Conditioned Pace.
Ellasen finished eighth in her most recent start and never left the cones. But she was sharp Tuesday for Dave Palone, downing Touchamatic by a half-length margin in 1:52.4, with Ubettorbeturlife third. Dirk Simpson trains the five-year-old daughter of Big Bad John-So Very Nice, who kicked her career earnings up to $177,998, for Peter Karras and William Tortoriello. Hall piloted three winners on the 13-race program.
Call For Justice had to work hard for the lead, and he drifted out in the lane, but he was strong enough to secure the victory in Sunday’s $20,000 Preferred Handicap Trot.
On a day when horses battled wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour, Call For Justice put the field away with a :27.1 third quarter for Palone en route to a 1:58 mile over a “good” surface. The first-over Northern Skyway was second, 1-1/4 lengths back, while early leader Media Buzz earned show. Burke trains Call For Justice, a seven-year-old son of Justice Hall-Mikas Mazurka who pushed his career bankroll to $557,757, for Burke Racing Stable. Palone garnered five wins and Mike Wilder three on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Sunday, when the program features a $2,798.30 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)