A monstrous long shot at 69-1, Pine Of Broadway saved ground, brushed wide late and pulled off a stunning upset in Monday’s $28,600 championship of the Ken Weaver Memorial Trot at The Meadows
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Pine Of Broadway finished second in the opening leg of the series for three- and four-year-old colts and geldings but has been troubled by breaks. In the Weaver final, Mike Wilder allowed the four-year-old Broadway Hall-Pine Queen gelding to settle in eighth before guiding him towards the lead along the pylons.
He moved off the cones in mid-stretch and scored in a career-best 1:59 over Oak Ridge Boy, while early leader Americangeneration saved show.
“I thought the odds were crazy,” said Wilder, who fashioned a five-bagger on the program. “Things haven’t been going right for him. I thought if the horse could catch a break, he had a chance. He has a lot of talent, but he’s very green.”
Moira Fahy, who purchased Pine Of Broadway at auction last fall for $4,000 and turned him over to husband Bill Fahy to train, predicted the trotter will become a successful raceway performer.
“He showed potential, but he had some tendon issues when we got him,” she said. “We’ve been working very hard on those. He sure won the right race.”
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot, Trotslikethewind followed her first-over cover beautifully and triumphed in 1:55.2 for Tony Hall and owner/trainer Andy Rickert. Nickie K was second, with Photo Fantasy third. A seven-year-old daughter of Pegasus Spur-Familiar Goal, Trotslikethewind now boasts $187,790 in career earnings.
Dave Palone notched two wins on the 15-race card, lifting his career total to 14,996 as he seeks to become the second driver in North American harness racing history with 15,000 lifetime victories. Herve Filion, the all-time North American victory leader with 15,180, plans to congratulate Palone in the winners’ circle following the historic win. Palone has 12 scheduled drives on Tuesday’s card, which begins at 12:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)