Vacation Money maintained her poise while her rivals blew up around her, then shot the Lightning Lane to pull off an 18-1 upset in Wednesday’s (March 11) Mary Wohlmuth Memorial Trot at The Meadows.
Andover Contessa captured the other $12,500 second-leg split in the series for three- and four-year-old fillies and mares.
While four of the nine distaffers in the field jumped it off, Vacation Money patiently stalked leader Tough Tootsie from the pocket. When Aaron Merriman pointed her inside, the three-year-old daughter of Break The Bank K and American Holiday surged past to score in a career best 1:59.3. Aunt Bee rallied for second, beaten by a half length, while Tough Tootsie saved show.
Norm Parker trains Vacation Money for owner-breeder Bob Key. It was one of four wins for Merriman on the 13-race card.
The Mary Wohlmuth is one of four late-closing series The Meadows is currently featuring, with all four finals set for Friday, March 20.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Friday (March 13), when the program features a $1,725.40 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)