Goodtogo Hanover completed her sweep of the Whata Donato Trot for three-year-old fillies — and notched her sixth straight win overall — when she captured Wednesday’s $31,300 championship leg at The Meadows.
Goodtogo Hanover zipped to the front from post two for Brian Zendt and put away most of the field early, but she couldn’t shake Rule Of Hall, who abandoned the pocket around the final turn to take a crack at her. But the daughter of Explosive Matter-Grammy Hall had enough in the tank to down Rule Of Hall by a length in 1:56. Waterview Hanover earned show.
“I wasn’t really concerned about the horse on my back — she has plenty of trot,” Zendt said. “What concerned me was getting out of the two-hole. She’s a little rammy in there, but she behaves herself well enough when it’s time to go. Sometimes she tries to leave before the gate’s actually out of the way.”
Trainer Bill Zendt and his partner, Gary Saul, purchased Goodtogo Hanover as a yearling for $18,000 and kept her eligible to a healthy stakes schedule, including the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes. Brian Zendt said the filly will get some time off before the PASS opener May 7 at The Meadows.
“Instead of racing her against aged mares, I’m pretty sure we’ll either train her good or maybe qualify her light so she’s tight for the stake races,” he said. “We won’t let her off two or three weeks and then just go in a stake race. She’ll be fun to race against top fillies. I’m not sure she’s ready to trot in 1:53, but who knows how fast they’ll go.”
In the $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, Tamarind grabbed the lead with an uncovered backside burst, then held off Monte Cristo Spur by a length to triumph in 1:53.3. The pocket-sitting I Know My Chip was third. Aaron Merriman piloted the right-year-old son of Angus Hall-Spicegirl Kosmos, who vaulted over $800,000 in career earnings, for owner/trainer Bill Bercury.
Dave Palone collected four wins — including a trio for trainer Ron Burke — while Jim Pantaleano and Brian Zendt each enjoyed a triple on the 15-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Saturday, when the program features the $32,500 championship of the Atta Boy Dan Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings. First post is 1 p.m.
(The Meadows)