On the bench since Dec. 23, Dragon Tattooteen followed cover beautifully and pulled off a 15-1 upset in Tuesday’s opening leg of the Walter Russell Memorial Pace at The Meadows.
Partyatbartsplace and Mogul Hanover took the other $15,000 divisions of the Russell. The series for three- and four-year-old pacing colts, geldings and horses honours the memory of the late Walter Russell, a Hall of Fame racing judge.
Dragon Tattooteen was away sixth for Wilbur Yoder when he picked up the live cover of the 3-5 favourite, Fly By Ry. He roared by Fly By Ry in the lane to down him by 3/4 lengths in 1:56.3. Dealin Dan earned show. Rich Gillock trains Dragon Tattooteen, a three-year-old son of Dragon Again-Tattootina, for Bob Key.
In the $18,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, Run And Tell Pap snapped an uncharacteristic three-race losing streak by zipping through the Lightning Lane to score in 1:55 for Dave Palone. Rembrandt Spur finished second, 1/2 length back, while Austins Jon Jon and TSM Photo Bugger dead-heated for show.
Ron Burke trains Run And Tell Pap, a seven-year-old High Falls-Adeles Jade gelding who boosted his career bankroll to $459,301, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and M1 Stable. It was one of four wins on the 15-race card for Palone.
(Meadows)