Great Magic captured his second straight series division when he scored a front-end victory in Monday’s Ken Weaver Memorial Trot at The Meadows.
The second leg of the event for three- and four-year-old colt, stallion and gelding trotters was contested over three divisions, with Flying Muscles and Keystone Chester taking the other $12,000 splits.
While Great Magic never relinquished the lead, he had to thwart a serious challenge from Kickoff Hanover, who pulled the pocket into the final turn. Great Magic found another gear and downed his rival by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1, with Justice Delight third. Dave Palone drove Great Magic, a sophomore son of Kadabra-Dream Again for trainer Rich Gillock and owner Bob Key.
In the $18,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, Indiana Sires Stakes standout Rose Run Parker kicked off his four-year-old campaign successfully despite a parked-out opening quarter. He scored for Palone in 1:55, 3-1/2 lengths better than TSM Photo Bugger, while Luminosity earned show.
Ron Burke conditions Rose Run Parker, a four-year-old Jailhouse Jesse-Centergy gelding who now boasts $585,865 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and W Haas, Jr. Rose Run Parker has taken 23 of his 29 lifetime starts for a gaudy winning percentage of 79.3.
Brian Zendt and Palone each piloted four winners on the 14-race card.
(with files from The Meadows)