Cashmere N Caviar brushed to the lead past the quarter and held on late, remaining undefeated in her four-race career as she captured the fastest division of Wednesday’s $120,000 Currier & Ives for three-year-old trotting fillies
at The Meadows. Celebrity Katie and Im A Centerfold, both piloted by Brett Miller, captured the other $40,000 splits.
Cashmere N Caviar moved to the front after getting away third for Dave Palone. When challenged late by Tui, she dug in so gamely that Palone never used the whip. The daughter of SJs Caviar-Ladyinfocus downed Tui by a head in 1:55, a tick off the stakes record established in 2009 by Timelesswinner Two. Cutie Pie rallied for show.
“She’s quick as a cat and just so willing,” Palone said. “I wanted to be cautious when I wrapped up on her in the stretch. She’s got there and cleared only one other time, and she was waiting for me to ask on her. I didn’t want to make a mistake, so I just kind of sat there and let her trot her own mile.”
Mike Palone, who trains Cashmere N Caviar for Rima Holdings, said the filly is ticketed primarily for Pennsylvania stakes this year.
Celebrity Katie overcame an unusual trip that saw her three-wide during a quarter-pole move and uncovered for most of the third panel. Nevertheless, she drew off to triumph in 1:57, three lengths better than Lady Ridge, with Backstreet Hanover third.
“She didn’t catch the easiest trip today, but she showed some guts,” said Staffan Lind, who trains the daughter of SJs Caviar-Star Hanover and owns with Celebrity Farms. “Last year she couldn’t be on the front end at all; she was just waiting for them. But on five-eighths tracks, the front seems to work for her. She’ll be back for the next leg of the sires stakes, but she’ll have some chances on the Grand Circuit.”
Im A Centerfold got away fifth from Post 8 and was forced to close into a leisurely :59.1 half. But she delivered her usual strong rally and scored in a career-best 1:57.4. Panthalops shot the Lightning Lane for second, three-quarter lengths in arrears, while Linnea P was third.
“She likes chasing horses, but that’s her greenness showing. It was only her eighth lifetime start,” said victorious trainer Randy Neal. “She will leave, but we haven’t asked her to because she’s been coming home so well. We’ll decide on her next start — sires stakes or stallion series — after we see how she comes out of this.”
David Prushnok, John Prushnok, William Gregg and Andy Miller own Im A Centerfold, a daughter of Glidemaster-Centerfold Kosmos.
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot, Im Justa Lady notched the 73rd win of her illustrious career in 1:54.4, matching the lifetime mark she took in 2006. BVs Sister was two and a half lengths back in second while Caviar Forthe Lady rallied from last to earn show money. Tony Hall drove for trainer Mike Strejcek and owners Janet Collins and Patricia Daumit.
Miller drove five winners while Hall and Palone each fashioned a triple on the 16-race card.
(The Meadows)