The conditions certainly did not bode well for Party At The Banks in the $17,900 Open Handicap Trot on Tuesday (July 21) at The Meadows. A rapidly moving thunderstorm rendered the track 'sloppy' shortly before the race, and Party At The Banks—the lone mare in a distinguished field—found herself parked the opening half.
Yet the six-year-old daughter of Break The Bank K-Beach Party As persevered and blazed to victory for driver Chris Page in 1:52.1, the fastest mile ever by an older mare at The Meadows. The time erased the mark of 1:52.3 established by Cowgirl Hall in 2014. Early leader Icanflylikeanangel was second, three-and-three-quarter lengths back, with Perlucky third.
Ron Burke trains Party At The Banks, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $367,668, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Mike Wilder collected four wins, including a pair for trainer Dan Altmeyer, on the 15-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday (July 22) when the 15-race program features a $14,183.69 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5 as well as a pair of stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings: a $217,856 Pennsylvania Sires Stake and a $100,000 PA Stallion Series event. First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(The Meadows)