Driver Anthony MacDonald popped the earplugs and the pocket out of the final turn with Think Of Galaxies and outkicked the leader, Dewitt For Josie, to capture Wednesday’s $21,200 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Dewitt For Josie endured a parked-out :26.3 opening panel to reach the point, which made her vulnerable to the late charge of the pocket-sitter. Think Of Galaxies triumphed in 1:50.2 for MacDonald, three lengths better than Dewitt For Josie, with the first-up Blue Ivy a game third.
Tim Twaddle trains Think Of Galaxies, a five-year-old daughter of So Surreal-Lightning D Dube who won for the third time in her last four starts and pushed her lifetime bankroll to $337,231, for TheStable Thinkofgalaxies Group.
Last for most of the race, Tom “Mayhem” Svrcek and Iron Wheel looped the field in the lane to capture Wednesday’s $10,000 leg of the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) Trot.
Making only his third pari-mutuel drive in the last 12 years, Bill Bercury, in rein to Warrawee Whisper, worked hard to seat Jerry “Duke of Oil” Kehm and Emotions Riches early and appeared strong exiting the final turn. When Svrcek's trotter peeled off cover, however, he outsprinted Bercury's mount and downed him by a length in 1:57.1, with Kehm third. Tony “In This to Win This” Dinges and Buckeye Cash completed the Superfecta ticket.
Svrcek owns Iron Wheel, a six-year-old Father Patrick-Magic Wheel gelding, who’s trained by Bryce Brocklehurst.
It was Mayhem’s third GLADA triumph this season at The Meadows after his first two with Whiskey Lindy.
Jack Killeen and trainer John Sullivan teamed for a pair of victories on the 12-race card, as did Dave Palone and trainer Brandon Presto.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday, with first post set for 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)