September Hall rushed to the early lead, then sailed through the slop Monday at The Meadows to capture his second straight in the Ken Weaver Memorial Trot.
Marvenue took the other $12,500 third-leg division in the series for 3- and 4-year-old colts and geldings. The $20,000-added final goes Monday, March 25.
Although steady rain had drenched the track, September Hall had little trouble handling the surface as he scored for Brett Miller in 2:00.4. Red Falkor was second, three-quarters of a length back, with Pounce K third. Bruce Riegle trains September Hall, a four-year-old son of Andover Hall-September Hanover, for Mario Caponi, and has won two of his three starts under the guidance of Riegle.
Marvenue also triumphed on the front end for Mike Wilder by pocketing his stablemate, Coronations K, and defeating him by a length in a sharp 1:58.4. Jailhouse Camryn was a non-threatening third. Charlie Norris trains Marvenue, a sophomore son of Revenue S-Tanimara American, for owner/breeder Bob Key.
In the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Pace, Ali Rush made it four straight — and six wins in her last seven starts — when she moved first over and nailed the favorite, Do Me Honor, by 1/2 length in 1:55.3. Miller piloted the eight-year-old daughter of Dragon Again-Alicrombie for trainer Darren Taneyhill and owner Jessica Hensley. Ali Rush now has banked $294,300 in her career.
Miller and Dave Palone each drove four winners on the 15-race card.
(Meadows)