After futilely knocking heads with some of the best fillies in her division in recent weeks, Draw The Line found a spot more to her liking and triumphed in the $71,824 Keystone Classic for sophomore filly trotters on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Draw The Line was ambitiously placed in such top stakes as the Hambletonian Oaks, the Delvin Miller and the Delmonica Hanover, but all she got to show for it were minor awards and a nine-race losing streak. In the Keystone Classic, however, Ronnie Wrenn confidently quarter-poled her to the top.
Even there, Wrenn had to keep after the daughter of Cantab Hall-Ridge Speed late so she could down the pocket-sitting Happy Chopper by three-quarter lengths in 1:54.3. The first-over Tequini Hanover finished third.
“She was 1-5, so I think everyone thought she laid over the field,” said Wrenn. “It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. She dug in late and showed her class. She was a little funny on the front today, not really wanting to go. But when it was time to dig in, she responded.”
Ron Burke trains Draw The Line, who extended her lifetime bankroll to $320,923, for Brad Grant.
Wrenn collected four wins and Burke three on the 13-race card.
Thursday’s program at The Meadows features a $55,550 USD Keystone Classic for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)