Bet On The Bay confidently pulled the pocket in the final turn and outdueled Lydeo, the 1-5 favourite, in the lane in Wednesday’s Ruby Cook Memorial Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Party In Pink captured the other $12,500 second-leg division in the series for three-year-old fillies. Dave Palone piloted the winners of both splits, among his five victories on the 11-race card. The $17,500-added series championship is set for Wednesday, April 27.
Once Lydeo enjoyed a leisurely :58.3 front half, it appeared that, even with the two-hole trip, Bet On The Bay would have trouble getting by. But once Palone unleashed her, the daughter of Betting-Line-Whos Up Whos Down showed her mettle, downing Lydeo by a neck in 1:54.2 and snapping her three-race winning streak. Somemiki Hanover finished third.
Dane Snyder trains Bet On The Bay for Linwood Higgins, Kristine Kash, Danielle Snyder and Jason Ash LLC.
Party In Pink quarter-poled to the top and salted the race away with a :27.4 third panel, triumphing by three-quarters of a length in a career-best 1:54.1. Bet Im Lucky and Shenanigans Twain completed the ticket.
Kevin Johnson trains the daughter of Well Said-Pink Is Perfect for Bay Pond Racing Stable.
In the $17,600 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace, Continualou quarter-poled to the point for Palone and was easily the best from there, defeating Game Of Shadows by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52, with Lady Newton third.
Ron Burke conditions the four-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou-Continual Velocity, who lifted her lifetime bankroll to $362,284, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Palone's other winners were Pretty Interesting for trainer Rick Beinhauer and Twilight Blue Chip for trainer David Zito.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday when the 11-race program features a pair of carryovers: $5,840.75 in the final-race Super Hi-5, $4,843.98 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race four). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(With files from MSOA)