With five wins Wednesday at The Meadows — including the feature — Dave Palone pushed his career total to 16,993 as he pursues the unprecedented achievement of 17,000 victories.
Palone, of course, already is harness racing’s “winningest” driver, so every victory establishes a new record. The Meadows resumes racing Friday, when Palone has nine scheduled assignments.
In Wednesday’s feature, the $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Atta Boy Dan moved powerfully first over for Palone to wear down the game leader, Sam Hill, and down him by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51. Royal Heart finished third.
Ron Burke trains Atta Boy Dan, a six-year-old Western Terror-Dropitlikeitshot gelding who now boasts $370,367 in lifetime earnings, for Burke Racing Stable, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
(The Meadows)