Ontario-owned pacer The Ideal Dancer A held off the stern challenge of Patrikthepiranha A to capture Friday’s feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, a $16,892 conditioned pace.
Patrikthepiranha A stalked the front-ending The Ideal Dancer A from the pocket and knifed to the Lightning Lane for the drive. The Australia-bred rivals battled through the lane, with The Ideal Dancer A maintaining a neck margin to score in 1:51.4. Google My Chrome finished third.
Braiden Rhoades trains the winner, a nine-year-old American Ideal-Jennas Dancer gelding who lifted his career earnings to $293,795, for M T Stables Ontario Inc. of Scarborough, Ont.
Dave Palone and Ronnie Wrenn Jr. each piloted three winners on the 13-race card.
Elsewhere on Friday’s program, trotter Izzys Moneyburg, who began his career with 38 consecutive losses, snapped that skid with a strong, wide stretch rally for Robert McNeight that carried him to victory in 2:00.2. Ed McNeight trains the five-year-old Victory Sam-Whynot Ashley gelding for Pennsylvania's Susan Elson.
The Meadows will be dark the week of April 1 to allow for track maintenance and upgrades to the physical plant. Simulcast racing and wagering will continue throughout this period. When live racing resumes Wednesday, April 10, The Meadows will kick off its spring/summer schedule, featuring live racing each Wednesday through Saturday.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)