Commander Frank powered through the slop to capture the $20,400 championship of the Terry Altmeyer Memorial on Friday (April 28), completing his sweep of the series for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The winner’s stablemate, Big Boy Ernest, finished three-quarters of a length back in second, sealing an exacta sweep for trainer Norm Parker and owners Tom Brice, Bart Brice, Charles Receski and Ed Receski.
Commander Frank was parked for most of the opening panel. But once he cleared his stablemate, the Southwind Frank - Lady Athens gelding easily deflected the first-over challenge of Express Man and scored in 1:54.3 for Mike Wilder, matching his career best. Fire N Lightning completed the ticket. It was one of three wins on the 12-race card for Wilder.
Parker said the homebred Commander Frank has performed consistently since he “corrected one little trainer error.”
“I raced him without hopples his first race this year, and he made a break,” said Parker. “So I got smart and went back to them.”
The road for Big Boy Ernest his been a bit bumpier.
“He was a little tough to handle at two, and we probably should have gelded him,” said Parker. “We castrated him this year, and he’s been right there every week.”
He indicated the stablemates are eligible to a full schedule of Pennsylvania stakes.
Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Saturday when the 12-race program features $5,000 guarantees on each of the three Pick 4 wagers — Races 1, 5 and 9. In addition, because Saturday is the final day of the current race meeting and carryovers to the next meeting are not permitted, mandatory payouts will occur in the Pick 5 (Race 8), the Late Pentafecta (Race 12), the Late Pick 4 (Race 9) and the final Superfecta of the day. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(MSOA)