Looking like a beaten 1-5 favourite after a seemingly failed first-over bid, Betterinpinehurst found new life in the lane and triumphed in Thursday’s Terry Altmeyer Memorial Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Cussin N Fussin took the other $12,500 opening-leg division of the series for three-year-old colts and geldings. The event honours the memory of Terry Altmeyer, a stalwart of both The Meadows and the Pennsylvania Fairs.
Betterinpinehurst was third down the backside when trainer/driver David Wade sent him after the leader, Muscle Hall, who appeared to repel the challenge. After retreating, though, Betterinpinehurst found a new gear and defeated Muscle Hall by a half-length in 1:56.3 over a “good” surface, lowering his lifetime mark a tick. I Love My MVP finished third. Gerald Brittingham, William Peel and Wade campaign the winner, a Better Caviar-Sheer Delight gelding.
Cussin N Fussin’s path to victory was more straightforward, as he zipped to the early lead and never relinquished it, scoring by 2-3/4 lengths in a career-best 1:57.4 for Dave Palone, trainer Bill Daugherty Jr. and owner Susan Daugherty. Armani and Ramses completed the ticket.
The Margaret Provost Memorial Trot for three-year-old fillies, which honours the memory of longtime Standardbred owner Margaret Provost, also kicked off Thursday, with Fit Fanatic and Caviar On Broadway taking the $12,500 splits.
Fit Fanatic hadn’t raced since October 20, but as her name suggests, she looked mighty fit, rolling to a facile front-end score in 1:58.1, fastest win of her career. The pocket-sitting V Four Victorious was second, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, with I Luv To Motor third. Todd Rooney conditions the daughter of Cantab Hall-Fitness Girl for Foge McKeever, Rooney Racing and Trotting for Bourbon.
Caviar On Broadway gave Wade, Brittingham and Peel their second series split on the day, as the daughter of Better Caviar-Broadway Sox recorded a first-over triumph in 1:58.3. Gingerzzz and Intellect Hill rounded out the ticket.
Aaron Merriman, Dave Palone, Mike Wilder, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., and trainer Ron Burke joined Wade with doubles.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday when the 12-race program features a pair of carryovers — $4,399.16 in the final-race Super Hi-5, $3,168.51 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race four). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(MSOA)