Dewitt For Josie, who last week set a track record, made it two straight wins in Thursday’s $19,200 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
On July 19, Dewitt For Josie blazed to a 1:49.3 victory for Dave Palone, trainer Michael Hall and owner Let It Ride Stables Inc., fastest ever by a four-year-old mare pacer at The Meadows. She was a few ticks slower on Thursday and needed to respond to Palone’s urging to preserve her 1:50.1 victory. The pocket-sitting Blue Ivy was second, a length back, with Sweet And Feisty third.
The daughter of Sportswriter-Lucky Josie now boasts a career bankroll of $249,307.
Elsewhere on Thursday’s 12-race card, Always Bet On Me made a successful career debut, scoring in 1:55.3 for Eric Neal and trainer Randal Neal. What makes this especially noteworthy is that the son of Betting Line-Sweet Toujours was one of the least expensive yearlings purchased last year at Harrisburg, where he was hammered down for $3,000 to Eric Neal and Neal Racing Stable LLC. Which shows once again that horses neither read nor heed sale results.
Anthony MacDonald, Mike Wilder and Palone joined trainers Ron Burke and Tim Twaddle with doubles.
Live harness racing at The Meadows continues Friday, Adios Eve, when the 13-race program features a pair of Arden Downs Grand Circuit stakes worth a combined $100,000 for two-year-old trotters. First post is 5:10 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)