Lifeintheslammer easily made the front from post seven and cruised to her fifth straight victory, a 6-1/2-length cakewalk in Thursday’s $10,000 opening leg of the Mary Wohlmuth Memorial Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
The series for three- and four-year-old filly and mare trotters honours the memory of Mary Wohlmuth, longtime manager of the 2:00 Club, a popular gathering spot of yore for horsemen and horsewomen at The Meadows.
Although Dave Palone never cut her loose, Lifeintheslammer rolled home under wraps in a career-best 1:55.3. How dominant has the four-year-old daughter of Royalty For Life-Tequila Slammer been? Her combined victory margin in those five wins is 39-3/4 lengths. Margaretaville and Swanful Grace completed the ticket.
Scott Betts trains Lifeintheslammer for Tim Betts, Tar Heel Racing and Stephen Moss.
Also kicking off Thursday was this series for three- and four-year-old colt and gelding trotters named for the late Dale McConnell, who earned the nickname “Mr. Trot” for his success in developing, training and driving trotters — including his best performer, Photo Maker. Charlatan Hanover and Beyond Belief captured the $10,000 splits.
Dismissed at a disrespectful 12-1, Charlatan Hanover fired through the Lightning Lane for Palone to eke out a nose victory over the 1-5 favourite, Hurrikane Willie G, in 1:56.1, a lifetime mark. Betterinpinehurst was another nose back third. Dirk Simpson conditions the four-year-old Uncle Peter-Charlotte Alber gelding.
Beyond Belief enjoyed a pocket trip before attacking wide in the lane and scoring in 1:59 for Jeremy Indof and owner/trainer Melin Straley. Armani was second, a length in arrears, with Malibu Man third.
In the $17,600 Open Handicap Trot, Perlucky was forced to take an early seat fifth, but that left him with plenty in the tank to loop the field at the three-quarters and triumph in 1:54.1 ahead of Mystical Peter and The Funk. Palone drove the seven-year-old Lucky Chucky-Paper Girl gelding, who now boasts a bankroll of $543,379, for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.
Palone piloted four winners and Indof three on the 11-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday when the 11-race program features a pair of carryovers: $21,616.79 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race four), $1,788.23 in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(MSOA)