Ourlittlemiracle led by a length turning for home, but then the pocket-sitting Blue Ivy threatened in the Lightning Lane. Blue Ivy and Aaron Merriman thrust, Ourlittlemiracle and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. parried. Who crossed the wire first?
They crossed it together in 1:51.1, the photo finish camera indicated, so they were declared dead-heat winners of Thursday’s $17,600 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Ron Burke trains Ourlittlemiracle, a four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Machnbyrd Princess who won her second straight for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Blue Ivy, a six-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-All Blue, has now won two of her last three starts. Bill Bercury conditions her for Renee Bercury.
Dave Palone and Merriman each piloted three winners on the 11-race card. Merriman’s haul sent him over $100 million in career purses.
It was yet another milestone for Merriman, 44, the seven-time reigning dash champion who splits his time between The Meadows and Ohio tracks. On July 13, 2022, he celebrated career driving win 14,000 at The Meadows.
“It’s pretty cool,” Merriman said. “I really didn’t notice it. It comes in chunks sometimes, but I didn’t think about it at all.”
Since drivers retain five percent of their horses’ earnings, Merriman has netted just over $5 million in his career. But he says he doesn’t have a big stash of that in a cookie jar.
“C’mon, man, you’re forgetting the expenses,” he says. “Having kids is a serious responsibility. Much of that money helped put my son through college.
“It’s a big milestone, and I’m looking forward to the next one. Some guys look for the dollars; I look for the W’s.”
Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Friday when the 11-race program features a pair of carryovers: $793.34 in the final-race Super Hi-5, $240.75 in the Jackpot Pick 5, First post is 5:10 p.m.
(With files from MSOA)