Commander Frank quarter-poled to the top and made it look easy from there, capturing an opening-leg division of Friday’s (April 14) Terry Altmeyer Memorial at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Fire N Lightning took the other $12,500 split in the series for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
Commander Frank tried racing without hopples last week in hit season debut but broke stride, prompting trainer Norm Parker to restore the equipment for the series. The son of Southwind Frank-Lady Athens was perfectly mannered for Mike Wilder, who shook the reins lightly at him to get him home in a career-best in 1:54.3. Longshot Biscoe finished second, 1-3/4 lengths back, with the first-over Lloyd Wright third.
Tom Brice, Bart Brice, Charles Receski and Ed Receski campaign Commander Frank.
Fire N Lightning trotted patiently in the pocket, then zipped through the Lightning Lane to defeat Big Boy Ernest by a neck in 1:54.4, a lifetime mark. Early leader Express Man completed the ticket. Brian Zendt piloted the Bar Hopping-Cantabs Lightning gelding, who triumphed for the fourth time in 10 outings, for trainer Bill Zendt and owner Gary Saul.
In Friday’s $19,300 Open Handicap Trot, Emeralds Legacy overtook the hard-used Tequila Talkin in deep stretch to score in 1:52.1, fastest mile this year by a four-year-old gelding on a five-eighths-mile track. The time by the four-year-old Father Patrick-Devilish Emerald gelding was just two ticks off the all-age track record. Dave Palone drove for trainer Scott Betts and owners Tim Betts, Nick Catalano and Shanamphilaniklou.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. collected four wins on the 12-race card, including a pair for trainer Ron Burke.
Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Saturday when the 12-race program features a pair of carryovers: $2,708.62 in the Early Pick 4 (Race 1) and $557.12 in the Pick 5 (Race 8). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)