Moneyman Mikki and Battleshoe Hart prevailed in the $13,154 opening leg divisions of the Wilbur Zendt Memorial Pace on Friday, March 8 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
The series for three- and four-year-old horses, colts and geldings honours the memory of Wilbur Zendt, a longtime trainer/driver whose descendants are pillars of racing at The Meadows.
Once Dave Palone moved Moneyman Mikki from the pocket past the quarter, he was well on his way to his third straight victory. The four-year-old Always B Miki-Not Before Eight gelding triumphed in a career-best 1:52.4, 1-3/4 lengths better than Chiseled In Faith, while Senditin Jim rallied from well back for show. Rick Hercules trains Moneyman Mikki for Jack Piatt III, Howard Alexander, Joseph Seman and William Schmid.
Battleshoe Hart (pictured above) duelled for the lead before settling in the pocket. His rest was brief, however, as Brady Jenson sent him to the point past the quarter. The four-year-old Wind Me Up-Robins Terror gelding widened his lead in the lane, scoring by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:52, fastest win of his career. Shethinksistilcare and EA Lucky Hill completed the ticket. Dirk Simpson conditions the winner for Ben Simpson Stable.
Friday’s card also featured a pair of $28,649 Open Handicaps — one for pacers, the other on the trot. In the trot, Warrawee Yang made it three straight with a front-end verdict for Ronnie Wrenn Jr., trainer Michael Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The four-year-old son of Trixton-Endless Flirt prevailed in 1:52.4, matching his lifetime mark, to raise his career earnings to $159,344. Killer Instinct was second, beaten three parts of a length, while Emeralds Legacy closed well for show.
In the pace, Wrenn and Burke completed a sweep of the overnight features when Sumomentsomwhere A held off the late charge of 22-1 longshot The Real Way and scored by a head in a career-best 1:50.4. Liteningonthebeach shot the Lightning Lane for show. It was the fourth win in the last six starts for the seven-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Special Moment gelding, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $160,721. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Jamie Durnberger-Smith campaign the winner.
Wrenn and Burke teamed for four wins on the 14-race card while Aaron Merriman also enjoyed a four-bagger.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes on Wednesday, March 13 when the program features a trio of carryovers: $886.52 in the Lucky7; $1,874.46 in the Early Pentafecta; $745.39 in the Pick 5. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)