Shuffled to sixth along the pylons with no path out, Hard Headed Women barrelled through the lightning lane and scored the 8-1 upset in Monday’s opening leg of the Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at The Meadows.
Terrortina took the other $12,500 split in the series for three and four-year-old fillies and mares.
The event honours the memory of the late Donna Dunn, longtime Standardbred owner and wife of the late Walter ‘Boots’ Dunn, prominent trainer, driver, breeder and United States Trotting Association director.
Hard Headed Women got away fourth from Post 9 for Aaron Merriman, but was buried inside down the backside. Merriman sent her around one horse into the final turn before pointing her to the lightning lane. She prevailed in a career-best 1:55.4, one and a half lengths better than Bella Ragaza, with Jade Bangles third. Bill Rhoades trains the four-year-old daughter of Riverboat King-Dragons Georgette for Leah Rhodes.
In the $20,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, Spreester, a 13-time winner in 2016 who had been shut out in her first eight starts this year, survived a miserable trip to score for Merriman, trainer Bill Bercury and owner Renee Bercury. Early leader Lakeisha was second, a half-length back, with a rallying Medusa third. The six-year-old daughter of American Ideal-Rodeo Spree extended her career bankroll to $594,656. It was one of three wins for Merriman on the 12-race card.
On Tuesday, March 7, The Meadows will offer a $20,000 total-pool guarantee for its Pick 5 wager as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Initiative. The Meadows added the 'instant' guarantee after Monday’s Pick 5 was uncovered, resulting in a two-day carryover of $6,328.09.
In addition, Tuesday’s card includes a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick 4, a regular feature of each program at The Meadows.
Minimum wager for the Pick 4 (Races 4-7) and Pick 5 (Races 9-13) is 50 cents. Since Pennsylvania law requires a minimum per-race wager of $2, a player wagering at the 50-cent level must bet at least four tickets.
First post for Tuesday’s program is 1 p.m.
(The Meadows)