A three-race maiden entering the race, Discoverer journeyed to the front and discovered the winner's circle in 1:54 in Friday’s opening leg of the Jans Luck at The Meadows
. Hokie Heart and Tearosa, each driven by Mike Wilder and trained by Dan Altmeyer, captured the other $15,000 splits in the series for three-year-old fillies.
Dave Palone confidently sent Discoverer to the lead, where she enjoyed a :29.3 second-quarter breather. She blazed the back half in :56.3 and held off the late surge of the pocket-sitting Smoke Pan Mirrors, who fell 1-1/2 lengths short. A Lady Of Grace was third.
Kevin McDermott trains Discoverer, a daughter of Four Starzzz Shark-Under Your Spell, for D.R. Van Witzenburg and George Golemes.
Hokie Heart made her decisive move first over down the backside, wearing down the leader, Shes On The Level, and scoring in 1:55, knocking 2.2 seconds from her lifetime mark. Feel The Jolt was 2-3/4 lengths back in second while Shes On The Level saved show.
Ron Mersky bred and owns Hokie Heart, a daughter of Dragon Again-Rose Croix.
Tearosa was a conditioned claimer only three races ago, but her victory in an open NW2 event persuaded Altmeyer to try her in the series. She justified that faith by blowing by 3-5 favourite O Lucky Me in the stretch and prevailing in 1:55.2, a career best. O Lucky Me nipped Electricity for show, 1/2 length in arrears.
Heather Wilder, Richard Kelson, Jack Piatt II and Altmeyer own Tearosa, a daughter of The Panderosa-Armbro Tea.
Wilder and Brett Miller each drove three winners on the 14-race card.
(With files from The Meadows)