It was a classic stretch duel — front-ending Wild Wild Western atop the field as they turned for home, Surreal Ideal gaining precious inches from the pocket in the Lightning Lane.
As they crossed the wire in 1:51, the camera couldn’t separate them, and they were declared dead-heat winners of Friday’s $19,300 Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. The first-over Sandbetweenmytoes completed the ticket.
Brady Brown piloted Wild Wild Western, a six-year-old son of Western Ideal-Caila Fra who now boasts a career bankroll of $539,040, for trainer Norm Parker and owners Jacobs Creek Racing, Andrew Altobelli and Jon Deters. Ridge Warren steered Surreal Ideal for trainer Vernon Beachy, who owns the four-year-old So Surreal-Jkmusicofthenite gelding with Gitup Racing and Elise Kilmer. It was the second straight win for Surreal Ideal, who lifted his lifetime earnings to $148,563.
Hunter Myers collected four wins on the 12-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Tuesday when the program features a pair of carryovers — $15,798.28 in the final-race Jackpot Super Hi-5, $1,377.12 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (Race 4). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)