Filly Speaks was all out to do it, but she captured her second-consecutive series win— and fourth overall—in the Ruby Cook Memorial Pace on Wednesday (April 7) at The Meadows. Peep N Weep took a similar narrow victory in the other $12,500 second-leg division of the event for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Filly Speaks quarter-poled to the front for Tony Hall and opened a two-length lead past the three-quarters before Oceans Apart began to gain ground. Filly Speaks held off that rival by a nose to score in 1:53.3, matching her career best. Defy The Odds finished third.
Scott Betts trains the daughter of Artspeak-Fillys Victory for Tim Betts, Nick Catalano and Keith Pippi.
Peep N Weep had not raced since Oct. 28, but the daughter of Captainttreacherous-Number Please came back plenty sharp, repelling the "Lightning Lane" charge of Captains Maid by a head in a career-best 1:54.3, with Realization third. Dave Palone drove for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Joseph Critelli, William Switala and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Wednesday’s card also featured the $12,500 second leg of the Terry Altmeyer Memorial Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings. There, Whiskey Blu, who saw his unbeaten streak snapped at seven last week, rebounded with a facile front-end victory in 1:54.1, knocking two seconds from his lifetime mark. Donato Patriot K and Stewart completed the ticket.
Dan Charlino piloted the Southwind Frank-Kendall Blue gelding for trainer Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Kitefield Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. The championship legs of the Ruby Cook and the Terry Altmeyer are set for Wednesday, April 21.
Burke collected five wins and Palone four on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday (April 8) when the 14-race program features a $6,490.50 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(The Meadows)