Wilberforce scored his second straight series upset when he shot the 'lightning lane' to capture a division of Tuesday’s second leg of the Ken Weaver Memorial Trot at The Meadows.
Celebrity Bugatti and Explosive Leggs also took $12,000 second-leg splits in the event for three and four-year-old colts, horses and geldings.
Although he didn’t blow up the toteboard as he did last week with his 43-1 surprise, Wilberforce did score as the 4-1 third pick. The four-year-old Caviar Crown-Rose Run Imprint gelding trotted patiently in the pocket for Jim Pantaleano, then blew by late to triumph in a career-best 1:56. Early leader Pointblank Hanover was second, one and a quarter lengths back, with Cantad Kid third. Kris Rickert trains Wilberforce and owns with Dale Wareham.
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, Cowgirl Hall made it three straight with a facile, front-end win in 1:53.4, three-quarters of a length better than the pocket-sitting Swishnflick. Anaffairtoremember earned show. Dave Palone piloted the seven-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Centerfold Hall, who boosted her lifetime bankroll to $817,053, for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Jack Piatt III and Michael Rosenthal.
Tony Hall, Dan Rawlings and Pantaleano each enjoyed a triple on the 15-race card.
(The Meadows)