Racing as Lone Wolf Stable, Brian Gillespie has done well at The Meadows, even sending a starter to last week’s Adios eliminations. But there was one weapon missing from his equine arsenal — a horse to compete in Friday’s Edward M. Ryan, a $53,048 Arden Downs Grand Circuit stake named for Gillespie’s late grandfather, a former owner of The Meadows.
Brocious Racing Stable and trainer Robert Rougeaux III, on the other hand, had just such a horse, a promising two-year-old gelding trotter named Box Of Luck. The connections talked Thursday and worked out the sale of a share of Box Of Luck to Lone Wolf.
The result was pure storybook, as the son of Lucky Chucky-New DVD captured his Ed Ryan division in 1:59 for his third win in five outings. Equestrianconxtion was second, two lengths in arrears, while Toolbox Tuesday earned show.
“It’s [Gillespie’s] grandfather’s memorial race, and he kind of wanted to have a dog in the fight,” Rougeaux said. “I understand that. We have memorials for my grandfather at the fairs, and we’ll race our rear ends off to try to win that blanket. So we worked out a deal.”
Muay Hanover and Don Dream also took Ed Ryan splits in identical clockings of 1:57.1.
Dave Palone pulled the pocket with Muay Hanover into the final turn and collected a measured victory in 1:57.1. Vegas Chuck was second, half a length back, with Moonshiner Hanover third.
“I think the track tonight is actually better if you sit off the rail a little bit,” Palone said. “So I just wanted to get him out in the good footing. He felt great in the bit. I thought it would turn into a sprint, and I had plenty of horse.”
Ron Burke trains Muay Hanover, a son of Donato Hanover-Musetta Hanover, for Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables and J&T Silva Stables.
Don Dream saved ground before brushing through the stretch for Tony Hall and downing Andy M by two lengths. Early leader Monsta Hanover completed the ticket.
“He had a little bit of a snafu in his first race, but we can live with that because he’s doing the job now,” said Todd Rooney, who trains the son of Donato Hanover-Gabbys Dream and owns with Kimberly Farmer. “Tonight, we thought we might have to go to the front, but it turned out we didn’t have to. This was a good education for him.”
In Friday’s co-featured $49,800 Arden Downs for two-year-old filly trotters, a Grand Circuit stake known as the Judge Joe McGraw, Dangle Than Deke set a stake record of 1:55.4 while extending her unbeaten streak to four. She erased the old mark of 1:56.1 established in 2013 by Broadway Socks. The other divisions went to Youvegotwhatitakes and EZ Passer.
Dangle Then Deke — her name is a mash-up of a pair of ice hockey maneuvers — moved first over for Mike Wilder and defeated Temple Ruins by one and a half lengths, with Lovebeinglucky third.
“In terms of desire and gait, she’s the best two-year-old filly I’ve ever had,” said Dirk Simpson, who trains the daughter of Cantab Hall-Love My Muscles for James Bafia. “Her desire is unbelievable. She’s easy on herself on the off days, but when she gets behind the gate, she’s all business.”
Youvegotwhatitakes enjoyed a second-over trip and tracked down the leader, Trixie Dust, in the lane to down her by three-quarters of a length in 1:57.1. Blue Line Sniper earned show.
“The first quarter was :27,” said winning driver Dan Rawlings. “These are two-year-old trotters, so I thought they’d come back to me. I had plenty of time to catch them. She’s game.”
Erv Miller trains Youvegotwhatitakes, a daughter of Yankee Glide-Char Catie Becca, for Ronald Michelon, Paymaq Racing and Louis Willinger.
EZ Passer was well back early for Hall, trainer Mark Harder and owner Joseph Jannuzzelli, but Hall indicated he liked his position.
“They told me she gets hot and not to do anything too quick with her,” he said. “She kind of backed herself off, and I didn’t want to force the issue. She was great following cover — stayed nice and relaxed.”
The daughter of Crazed-Musclegrad prevailed in 1:57.3, six and three-quarter lengths better than Broadway Photo. Blameitonthealcohl was third.
(With files from The Meadows)