Classic Martine, Pennsylvania’s divisional co-champion in 2013 and Hambletonian Oaks runner-up, successfully launched her four-year-old campaign Wednesday at The Meadows by overcoming post nine and cruising to victory in the $22,500 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot.
Classic Martine earned a share of the PA championship when she and Frau Blucher finished in the fastest trotting dead-heat ever in the sires stakes final at The Meadows. There was no such drama Wednesday, as Dan Rawlings pushed her to the lead in :27.3 and gave her a :30.2 second-quarter breather. The daughter of Classic Photo-Drinking Days scored in 1:55 on a sloppy surface, two and a quarter lengths better than the pocket-sitting Unefoisdansmavie. Mistress Valentine was third.
Chris Oakes trains Classic Martine, who extended her career bankroll to $553,724, for Hauser Bros. Racing, Susan Oakes, Conrad Zurich and Edwin Gold.
Rawlings and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 14-race program.
Friday’s card at The Meadows features four divisions of an $80,000 PA Stallions Series stake for three-year-old filly pacers. First post is 12:55 p.m.
(With files from The Meadows)