Tough Muscle poured through the sloppy Lightning Lane to get by a stubborn Icanflylikeanangel and capture Friday’s $16,000 Open Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Icanflylikeanangel was shooting for his third straight win and easily thwarted the outside challengers. But when Dave Palone guided Tough Muscle inside, the four-year-old Musclesprinctonian-Cantabulous Julie gelding had enough to down him by a half-length in 1:54.4. Rose Run Whitney rallied for show.
Ron Burke trains Tough Muscle, who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Dean Collins enjoyed a huge Friday with three training wins and a driving victory, as did Palone and Aaron Merriman, who fashioned a four-bagger and a triple, respectively.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Saturday — Kentucky Derby Day — when the 13-race program features two stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers — a $139,156 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and a $60,000 PA Stallion Series event. Also among the day’s festivities are wall-to-wall activities for fans and the simulcast of the "Run for the Roses."
On the wagering front, the card offers a pair of carryovers — $2,732.98 in the final-race Super Hi-5, $212.09 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race four). Special post time for the live card is 11:30 a.m.
(MSOA)