Paper Heart converted a pocket trip to victory in a career-best 1:53.3 in Wednesday’s Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Keen Cathy captured the other $13,514 second-leg division in the series for three- and four-year-old filly and mare pacers.
An outside post relegated Paper Heart to a 10th place finish in the opening leg, but she was a different horse on Wednesday when Dave Palone gunned her to the pocket from the rail. The three-year-old daughter of Heston Blue Chip-Paper Cut stalked 4-5 favourite GD Cool Otoole before kicking by her in the lane and downing her by 1-1/4 lengths. Touchin Base finished third.
Jason Shaw trains Paper Heart, who has won four of her last five starts, and owns with Fortunate One LLC and Cory Kreiser.
Keen Cathy also benefitted from a pocket trip, but she had a much more challenging time reaching the garden spot as she had to avoid Deja Jade, who jumped it off as the 3-5 favourite. Once Brady Brown maneuvered Keen Cathy into the two-hole, the four-year-old daughter of World Of Rocknroll-Keen Cat blew by Tale Of Truth in the lane and scored in 1:56.2. Shop Micki rallied for second, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, while Tale Of Truth saved show.
Mark Goldberg conditions Keen Cathy for George Kehm and Jerry Kehm.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. piloted five winners on the 14-race card.
Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Thursday, March 14 when the 14-race program features a $1,043.96 carryover in the Lucky7 (race three). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)