Five-Baggers For Merriman, Palone

Drivers Aaron Merriman and Dave Palone tied for 'star of the card' honours at The Meadows on Friday (March 13) with five wins each including victories in the second leg of the Wilbur Zendt Memorial Series.

Zanetti ($10.20) pounced on the game but weary leader, Rock N Teen, in mid-stretch and scored in the first $12,500 series division for Merriman. Rock N Teen threw down a wicked 1:22.4 three-quarters, leaving him vulnerable to the first-over challenge of Zanetti. The four-year-old A Rocknroll Dance-Tys Artist gelding rolled past Rock N Teen and downed him by 2-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:52.1. Rick Magee trains Zanetti for Mikaela Delgiudice.

Driven by Palone, Smooth Lou ($4) took the other split in the series for three and four-year-old colts, stallions and geldings. The four-year-old Sweet Lou-Smooth Silver gelding drew off by 6-3/4 lengths to win in 1:53 for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Knox Services Inc.

The Wilbur Zendt is one of four late-closing series The Meadows currently is featuring, with the championship leg of each set for Friday, March 20.

Merriman and Palone each ended the day with five wins on the 13-race card while trainer Andy Rickert enjoyed a triple.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday when the program features a $5,000 total-pool guarantee in the Pick 4 (races three through six) and a $3,417.82 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 1:05 p.m.

(With files from MSOA)

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