A Fair Ol Dance N endured a demanding opening panel but was much the best late as he captured Friday’s $19,300 Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Cody Hanover stretched A Fair Ol Dance N to a :26.3 first quarter in the slop, which could have left the leader vulnerable in the stretch. But the eight-year-old A Rocknroll Dance-Presidential Affair gelding kept right to his task for Ronnie Wrenn Jr., prevailing in 1:51.3. Carolina Beach shot the Lightning Lane for second, two lengths back, while the first-over Sandbetweenmytoes finished third.
Ron Burke trains the winner, who now boasts a career bankroll of $243,260, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Kitefield Stable.
The team of Burke and Wrenn was a formidable force Friday, winning four of the 14 races on the card. In addition to Open winner A Fair Ol Dance N ($4.60), Burke sent out successful starters Gambling Addition ($6), JMs Finaltreasure ($7) and JDs Noah ($3).
Aaron Merriman also enjoyed a big day with three winners.
The Meadows will be dark the week of April 3 to allow for track maintenance. When racing resumes Wednesday, April 12, it will kick off The Meadows’ four-day-per-week spring/summer schedule, with live racing each Wednesday through Saturday.
(With files from MSOA)