Good Investment controlled the fractions but had to dig deep to hold off the late challenge of Slipmeamiki in order to capture the $18,200 championship of the Wilbur Zendt Memorial for three- and four-year-old pacing colts, horses and geldings held on Friday (March 24) at Hollywood Casino at the Meadows.
Good Investment seized the lead from post seven and easily repelled the outside flow but still faced the menacing threat of Slipmeamiki on his bumper. The four-year-old Racing Hill-Sea Cruise Hanover gelding responded to the urging of Aaron Merriman and downed Slipmeamiki by a head in 1:53 over a “good” surface. Shotguninthehotsun shot the Lightning Lane for show.
Unraced at two, Good Investment was purchased via online auction early last season by owner/trainer Dave Zito, who gave $7,800 for him.
“I treated him like he was a two-year-old to get all the kinks out of him,” Zito said. “He has a good attitude and a lot of go but had a bad habit of bearing in through turns. To be honest, I was hoping for a two-hole trip today, but Aaron had other thoughts.”
Zito, who indicated he turned down a substantial offer for Good Investment before the Wilbur Zendt began, said he plans to give the horse a week off and play his future by ear.
In Friday’s $19,300 Open Handicap Pace, Sandbetweenmytoes won a battle with A Fair Ol Dance N for the early lead and kept him pocketed throughout, defeating him by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3 for Brady Brown, trainer Dirk Simpson and owner Greg Luther Racing LLC. The six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere-Galleria gelding now boasts a career bankroll of $673,810. Cody Hanover powered through a late-opening seam for show.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. joined trainers Ron Burke and Paul Corey with three wins on the 13-race card.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday (March 29), with first post at 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)