Isabellas Magic, who had a single win in 17 previous starts, poured from the pocket in the stretch to upset 1-5 favourite Diamond Tiara in a division of Friday’s Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at The Meadows
. Givemybest Hanover captured the other $15,000 opening leg split in the event for three and four-year-old filly and mare pacers.
The event honours the late Donna Dunn, longtime horse owner and the wife of Meadows trainer and USTA Director Walter “Boots” Dunn.
Sent off at 9-2, Isabellas Magic sprang to the lead for Randy Tharps but settled in the pocket behind Diamond Tiara, who boasts an impressive 1:53.4 mark but was making her initial start of 2011. Isabellas Magic roared past her late, scoring in a career-best 1:55.1. Diamond Tiara saved place, 1-3/4 lengths back, with Caviart Lindy a closing third.
Ray Simms trains Isabellas Magic, a four-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall-Follow The Magic, for Bill Spotti.
Givemybest Hanover charged through the Lightning Lane for Mike Wilder to nail the stubborn Morwyn Hanover at the wire, downing that rival by a neck in a lifetime-fastest 1:56.1. Debauchee Hanover finished third.
Dan Altmeyer trains Givemybest Hanover, a three-year-old Dragon Again-Go For Best filly who has finished off the board only once in her nine-race career, and owns with Richard Kelson, Jack Piatt II and Murray Brown.
(The Meadows)