Jujubee controlled the tempo with a leisurely 1:00.3 half in the slop, then out-sprinted Whiskey Blu to the finish and ended that rival’s career unbeaten streak at seven in Wednesday’s (March 31) $12,500 opening leg of the Terry Altmeyer Memorial Trot at The Meadows.
Although Whiskey Blu entered the series with impeccable credentials, Jujubee was no slouch in that area, boasting four victories in seven outings and nary an off-the-board finish. Indeed, players installed him as the 2-5 choice over Whiskey Blu’s 3-2.
The pocket-sitting Whiskey Blu unleashed a furious stretch drive but fell a nose short of Jujubee, who prevailed for Tony Hall in 1:57.3. Shane Patrick was a distant third.
Greg Wright Jr. trains the winner, a son of Creatine and La Cantera, for Jon Erdner.
The series for sophomore trotting colts and geldings honours the memory of Terry Altmeyer, a fixture at both The Meadows and the Pennsylvania fairs.
Wednesday’s card also featured the $12,500 opening leg of the Ruby Cook Memorial Pace for three-year-old fillies, a series named for the late Ruby Cook, longtime switchboard operator at The Meadows. Filly Speaks was hammered down to 1-5 and justified the heavy play, zipping to the lead and collecting an easy win — her third straight — in 1:55.1. Captains Maid shot the Lightning Lane for second, 1-3/4 lengths back, with Realization third.
Hall piloted the daughter of Artspeak and Fillys Victory for trainer Scott Betts and owners Tim Betts, Nick Catalano and Keith Pippi.
It was a big Wednesday for Hall, who totalled five wins on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday (April 1), when the 13-race program features a $1,194.39 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)