Dismissed at 18-1, Hurricane Calleigh shot the Lightning Lane to pull off the upset in a career-best 1:52 in Monday’s $20,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
Hurricane Calleigh worked hard for the early lead but was slightly shuffled turning for home and in desperate need of racing home. When David McNeight III guided her to the Lightning Lane, she poured through and downed the rallying Lakeisha Hall by three-quarters of a length while long shot Dime A Dance closed well for show.
David McNeight, Jr. trains Hurricane Calleigh, a four-year-old daughter of Mcardle-Jo Pas Dragoness who vaulted over $100,000 in career earnings, for Courtney McNeight.
In Monday’s co-feature, a $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Lincolnjames enjoyed a second-quarter breather, then turned on the jets to score in 1:50.3 for Dave Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The pocket-sitting Dapper Dude was second, with the first-over Hawks Red Chief third.
The six-year-old Northwest-Winbak Lucy gelding now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $245,577.
It was one of three victories on the 12-race card for harness racing’s “winningest” driver and lifted his career total to 17,989.
After a break for Independence Day, live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday, first post 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)