The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania probably won't rename the PA Stallion Series to honour Mike Wilder, but the state might want to consider it after the driver’s performance Friday at The Meadows.
Wilder swept all four divisions of an $80,000 stallion series stake for three-year-old filly pacers, winning behind Eiffel Tower, Marathon Day, Eloquent Velocity and McVita Bella.
“I’ve never swept a whole stake like that,” said Wilder, who also captured an overnight event. “I liked three of the four for sure. I didn’t know about winning, but I was really confident in them. Everything just fell into place. I was in the right place at the right time.”
Fastest winner in the stake was Eiffel Tower, who moved first over to the lead and held off the late charge of Real Drama to defeat her by a head in 1:53.2. Americangirlfriend was third.
“I was driving her and having no luck at all,” said Dean Collins, who trains the homebred daughter of The Panderosa-Cest Tout for Glenda Collins and Janine Zito. “Mike gets along with her really well. He drove her last year and did really well. She’s always showed that she has some ability. She showed it today, and I was tickled to death.”
Fresh off her maiden-breaker, Marathon Day overtook the 2-5 favourite, Stucklikeglue, in the stretch and scored in a career-best 1:54. Stucklikeglue saved place, three-quarters of a length back, with Dragtontina third.
“The trip was perfect for us,” Wilder said. “She’s a nice-sized, strong filly. She has a great attitude. She really picked the bit up. When it came time to fight, she was ready.”
Nifty Norman conditions Marathon Day, a daughter of Well Said-Sandlark Hanover, for Paul Marino.
In the $18,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Ontario-sired Windsong Jack coasted to a front-end victory in 1:52 for Dave Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Stable 45. Im Feelin Good was a ground-saving second, one and three-quarter lengths in arrears, with Dedis Dragon third. The four-year-old Santanna Blue Chip-Milliondollarsmile gelding extended his career bankroll to $488,836.
Palone and Brian Zendt each piloted three winners on the 15-race card.
Saturday’s Kentucky Derby Day program at The Meadows features a $210,746 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for sophomore pacing fillies headlined by Uffizi Hanover, the 2013 Breeders Crown juvenile champion. A packed roster of Derby Day activities includes Miss Adios Swimsuit USA preliminary competition. First post is 11:25 a.m.
(With files from The Meadows)