Whole Lotta Lou has had a whole lotta success lately at The Meadowlands, and Saturday night (June 17), the Stacy Chiodo trainee completed a three-race sweep of the Play Meadowlands Series in the final, an $18,000 event for pacers who were non-winners of $5,000 before the series’ opening leg on June 3.
The five-year-old gelded son of Sweet Lou-Ideal Love was sent to the top Saturday night at the half and held sway to the wire, unlike a week ago when he came from off the pace sneaking up the inside to score as the 2-5 favourite.
“[Last week] I took my chances sitting in, but it worked out. I got loose,” said winning driver Vic Kirby. “Even Stacy said, ‘You are giving me a heart attack.’ Tonight, it was a little easier.”
Whole Lotta Lou left the gate quickly from post seven in the seven-horse field (there was one scratch) and was second to leader Straight Talk at the quarter in :27 before taking the top and hitting the half in :55. Imaginary Line then came first-over to provide a challenge to the leader at three-quarters in 1:22.4, setting up a two-horse race to the finish.
Imaginary Line continued to chip away at the leader’s edge through the stretch but came up a big nose short in a driving finish as Whole Lotta Lou reached the wire in 1:49.4. Bet A Bundle was third.
“I couldn’t tell [if I had won],” said Kirby. “I thought maybe Corey [Callahan, driving Imaginary Line] nailed me on the wire, but when I saw the replay, it wasn’t as close as I thought.”
‘Lou’ returned $4.60 to his backers as the 6-5 public choice. He’s now won 14 of 53 lifetime outings, good for earnings of $163,725.
The trips up from his Delaware base to The Big M have been good to Kirby, who guided three to victory lane one week ago.
“It makes the trip worthwhile,” said Kirby. “And makes the ride home a little easier.”
The amazing P L Ozzy ($3.20 to win) kept rolling, winning his fourth straight in sensational fashion, stopping the teletimer in a lifetime-best 1:48.3 for driver Callahan and trainer Justin Sodano in the second leg of the Play Meadowlands Series for non-winners of $10,000.
Raptors Flight N failed in his bid for a sixth straight score, but didn’t miss by much. He got nailed by a nose at the wire by A Bettor Beach ($13.40) in 1:51.1 after providing live cover for that foe in leg two of the Play Meadowlands Series for claimers.
There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick 6, setting up a carryover of $2,211 when racing resumes.
All-source wagering totalled $2,513,858 on the 13-race card.
Racing resumes Friday, June 23 at 6:20 p.m. (EDT).
(The Meadowlands)