No Satin Intended, who hadn’t raced since October 6, converted a perfect pocket trip to a shocking 21-1 upset victory in a division of Tuesday’s Valentowner
Pace at The Meadows. Also capturing $15,000 opening-leg splits in the series for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers were Fall Bliss, Border Fighting and Zipnthruthehall.
The event honours Valentowner, a fast and classy performer who was bred and campaigned by Bob Key.
Although No Satin Intended had only a pair of qualifiers on his card this year, Tony Hall hustled him through the slop to a comfortable seat behind Sky Mesa. The gelded son of No Pan Intended-Polished Satin shot the Lightning Lane to down Sky Mesa by a head in 1:54.4. Blueridge Camagot finished third.
Ronald Neal trains No Satin Intended for Laura Baker.
Fall Bliss was an impressive winner, as he was used three times - once for early position, once with a quarter-pole move, once to overtake the leader around the far turn. The Blissfull Hall-Fall Festival ridgling prevailed by 3-1/2 lengths in a time of 1:55.2 over Buckeye Blitz. Martini Twist finished third.
Brett Miller drove for trainer Del S. Miller and owner Horseshoe Road Farm.
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot, Im Justa Lady made a triumphant return to the track’s elite after toiling in conditioned races. She scored on the front end for Hall in 1:57. RT Sun Poco was second, while Tiffany rallied for show.
Mike Strejcek trains Im Justa Lady, a 10-year-old daughter of Inquirer-Quite Becoming who now has won 71 races and $652,615 in her stellar career for owners Janet Collins and Patricia Daumit.
Hall and Miller each drove four winners on the 15-race card while Eric Ledford fashioned a driving triple.
(The Meadows)