She may have been the 1-2 favourite, but Palermo Hanover needed nearly every inch of racetrack to get by Disclosure — and equal the stake record 1:53.2 — in Saturday (June 25)'s $57,335 Currier & Ives for three-year-old trotting fillies at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Away an unhurried third, Palermo Hanover watched as Disclosure opened a commanding lead. In fact, her margin grew so great that when Mike Wilder sent Palermo Hanover first up, she was able to clear the tiring Fit Fanatic and duck back to the cones.
That breather may have helped the daughter of Father Patrick-Personal Style, as she eventually wore down the well-meant Disclosure and downed her by 3/4 lengths. Whistle A Song finished third. The time matched the stake mark established by Sister Sledge in 2020.
Noel Daley trains Palermo Hanover, who now has banked $226,537, and owns with Larry Zelin and The Gandolfo Stables.
$8,000 Pop Up Series — 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pacers
In Saturday’s sub-feature, Coop A Loop overcame post 9 with an impressive uncovered move and scored in the series opening leg in his career debut.
The term “Coop-a-loop” describes a play used often and successfully by the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s when Michael Cooper would flush the high, arcing alley-oop passes of Magic Johnson. But this youngster’s victory Saturday was anything but a slam dunk.
He tried for the early lead but was pushed wide and had to drop in sixth. Then, he got no cover when Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. tipped him off the cones and was forced three wide into the final turn.
Nevertheless, the son of All Bets Off-Breakheart Pass overtook Louie Hanover in mid-stretch and defeated him by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2. Ron Burke trains Coop A Loop for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Dave Palone collected three wins — including career victory 20,000 — on the 11-race card. Mike Wilder also enjoyed a triple while Burke and Wrenn teamed for three wins.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday when the 11-race program features a pair of carryovers — $27,253.46 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (Race 4), $4,944.30 in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(MSOA)