Forced three wide prematurely when his cover stopped, Royaltyhasarrived roared wide through the lane to capture Saturday’s co-feature at The Meadows, a $13,000 Conditioned Pace.
Royaltyhasarrived following the first-over cover of Modern Reflection in pursuit of The Dark Shadow, who was enjoying an easy lead. When Modern Reflection stalled, Brady Brown was forced to swing Royaltyhasarrived further out. The six-year-old Western Terror-Her Mattjesty gelding needed most of the stretch, but he nailed The Dark Shadow by a neck in 1:51.3. Atta Boy Dan, frustrated in his quest for $700,000 in career earnings, raced well for third.
Steve Schoeffel trains Royaltyhasarrived, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $249,581, for Virginia Schoeffel and Kathy Schoeffel.
In Saturday’s co-feature, a $13,000 Conditioned Trot, Bellas Punkett, aided by the early break of 1-2 favourite EZ Passer, rolled to a front-end score in 1:55.1 for Dave Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owner Howard Taylor.
The six-year-old daughter of Super Punk-Nubella extended her career earnings to $122,154.
Jim Pantaleano, Burke and Palone each fashioned a triple on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the program features a pair of rich total-pool guarantees — $25,000 for the Pick 5, $7,500 for the Pick 4 — as well as $2,072.40 jackpot in the Super Hi-5. First post is 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)