Stirling Bella powered to the lead from fifth and rolled to a convincing victory in Friday’s opening leg of the Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at The Meadows. Small Town Charmer took the other $15,000 split in the series for three and four-year-old filly and mare pacers.
The series honours the memory of the late Donna Dunn, longtime Standardbred owner at The Meadows and the wife of trainer and USTA Director Walter “Boots” Dunn.
Leaving from the second tier, Stirling Bella was away in mid-pack before Aaron Merriman gunned her to the front just past the quarter. She sailed to victory in 1:55, one and a quarter lengths better than Black Silk Jammys, with Radar Lover third. Dave Zito trains the four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Fast Princess for Mervin Wengerd.
Small Town Charmer fashioned a similar journey — left from the second tier, got away fifth, zipped to the lead past the quarter — for Dave Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The victory in 1:55.3 for the three-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native-Brava Hanover was especially impressive, since she hadn’t raced since Sept. 29, 2013. Baby Cat finished second, one and a half lengths back, while Sandy Hook Hanover was third.
Mike Wilder drove four winners on the 15-race card while Palone, Burke and Brett Miller each enjoyed a triple.
(The Meadows)