By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horsemen Helping Horsemen”
Fancy Like Louuuuu clicked off the back half in 57.4 to keep her fellow freshman at bay on Wednesday to become the first 2-year-old winner of the year at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. The $9,000 pace was restricted to Pennsylvania-owned or -bred maiden fillies.
Fancy Like Louuuuu grabbed the lead easily from post 8, and when Aaron Merriman gave her a comfortable 1:01 opening half, she had the other seven first-time starters at her mercy. The daughter of Sweet Lou-Somewhere Sweet, a $35,000 acquisition at the Lexington Selected Sale, triumphed in 1:58.4, 1-1/4 lengths better than the pocket-sitting Sweet Briar (Sweet Lou-Tiki-Bar), with Angel Heart (Sweet-Lou-All Heart Gal), giving Sweet Lou a sire’s sweep.
Sarah Andrews trains Fancy Like Louuu and owns with Angela Cornell and Jarod Miller.
In Wednesday’s feature, an $11,500 Conditioned Trot, Mister Miracle attacked first over from third near the three-quarters and rolled home for Dave Palone and rolled home to score his second straight victory in a career-best 1.56.1, 1-1/4 lengths better than Northern Magenta. Big Baller Beane found late room for show.
Rick Beinhauer trains the winner, a 4-year-old Fordham Road-Wassador gelding, for Kathleen Quinn-Hodel, Virginia Trump and Kenneth Ward.
Merriman piloted four winners on the 13-race card while Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. enjoyed a triple.
The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) is a nonprofit organization that represents the interests of approximately 700 Standardbred trainers, drivers, caretakers and owners at The Meadows. In addition to providing horses to race at The Meadows, MSOA administers such member-centric services as health insurance and retirement programs for horsemen and horsewomen.