Pinned along the cones into the final turn, Jillian B Miki found late room in the center of the track and roared to victory in Wednesday’s $20,500 championship of the Donna Dunn Memorial Pace for three- and four-year-old fillies and mares at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Jillian B Miki was fifth when Jim Pantaleano angled her off the pylons for clearance. She found it in the widest path and got up to defeat Irish Daydream by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:53.3 over a “good” surface, matching the lifetime mark she established in last week’s series leg.
A three-year-old daughter of Always B Miki-Sir Jillian Z Tam, Jillian B Miki had only three starts last year, all at Pennsylvania Fairs. But she broke through early this season for trainer Tye Loy, who owns her with Rich Gillock.
“I was worried about finding room because she wasn’t keeping up to her cover into the turn, and I could see the horses in front of her tiring,” Pantaleano said. “I knew I would have to angle her out. I was surprised when she surged the way she did halfway through the stretch. That was pretty gritty for a green horse.
“If she continues to develop, she could make a nice stallion series horse at the least — just because she acts so much like a racehorse.”
Dave Palone and Pantaleano each enjoyed three wins on the 11-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Thursday when the 11-race program features a pair of rich carryovers: $29,152.16 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race 4), $7,450.02 in the final-race Super Hi-5. On the racing front, the card offers the $18,500 championship of the Mary Wohlmuth Memorial Trot (race four) as well as the $19,500 final of the Dale McConnell Memorial Trot (race six). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)