Spotting the leader six and a half lengths at the half, Upfrontluckycarol launched a relentless uncovered bid that carried her to victory — and a stake record — in Friday’s $64,078 Arden Downs event at The Meadows.
UF Tadys Donato took the other division of the stake, known as the Ned McCarr, for three-year-old filly trotters.
When winning driver Eric Ledford saw the distance he would have to make up on the loose leader, True Day Dream with Aaron Merriman, he figured he was racing for a cheque.
“I really didn't think I would catch Aaron,” Ledford said. “I thought his filly would keep on going. I ducked back inside for a few steps, but I had her momentum going, so I popped right back out. The game plan was to go out there and see how everything unfolded.”
The daughter of Andover Hall and Batbreaker prevailed in 1:55, downing the rallying Antsy Dancey by half a length. True Day Dream saved show. The time knocked two ticks off the stake record established last year by Delicious. Kelly O’Donnell trains Upfrontluckycarol, who extended her career bankroll to $225,391, for Up Front Racing and Murray Brown.
UF Tadys Donato had been experiencing breaking problems, but Dave Palone didn’t hesitate to rush her to the lead from the rail before settling in the pocket.
“We’ve been expecting a lot out of this filly,” Palone said. “She has tons of ability. It was just a matter of getting her squared away. I never took her plugs out. She sat in there nice and quiet and sprinted home good.”
UF Tadys Donato kicked by the favourite, Promisemethis, to defeat her by three-quarters of a lengths in 1:56.1, with Won Ton Hanover third. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the daughter of Donato Hanover and Tadys Comer for Up Front Racing, which enjoyed a Ned McCarr sweep. It was one of four wins on the 15-race card for Palone.
The companion Grand Circuit stake on Friday’s card, known as the James Manderino, was a showcase for Brett Miller, who swept the event with Maxamillus and Vibe Blue Chip.
Vibe Blue Chip hadn’t been away better than fourth in his last six starts, but Miller took a different approach, gunning him to the lead from post eight and enabling him to sit second behind Its Complicated.
“Having the eight-hole, I felt there was no shot of winning the race if we got away eighth,” Miller said. “So I just rolled the dice and left with him. Once I got about 10 steps out of the gate, he felt comfortable, so I really stepped on the gas.”
Vibe Blue Chip blew by in the lane to down Its Complicated by a nose in 1:55 while Show Ticket earned a show ticket. Ron Burke trains the Andover Hall-Winning Jonlin gelding for Joseph DiScala Jr. and Cynthia Massari.
Maxamillus also worked out a cozy pocket trip behind Major Athens and scored in 1:56 for trainer Kris Hite and owner/breeder Tom Svrcek. Ruddy Rusty shot the Lightning Lane for second, a neck back, while Major Athens held show.
“He’s very honest, very consistent,” Hite said. “I think that’s one of his strong points. He has a great gait and gives you 100 per cent every time.”
On Saturday’s Adios Day card, The Meadows, in cooperation with the United States Trotting Association Strategic Wagering Initiative, is offering three special Adios Day wagers: a $7,500 guaranteed Pick 4 (Races 4-7); a $15,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 (Races 9-12), and a $25,000 guaranteed Superfecta on Race 12, the Adios final.
In addition, The Meadows and HorseTourneys.com are offering a “Pick & Pray” handicapping contest on Adios Day, with the winner earning a free berth in the 2014 World Harness Handicapping Contest. Free past performances are available at Track Master. To register and for a complete list of contest rules, visit horsetourneys.com/rules.
(The Meadows)