By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horsemen Helping Horsemen”
Making her career debut, Aunt Lilly moved effortlessly first over to capture a division of Saturday’s Pop-Up Series for freshman filly trotters at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Freedom Hill, also a first-time starter, took the other $10,000 split, giving Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and trainer Tim Twaddle an opening-leg sweep.
A daughter of Uncle Peter-Chuckys Luckycharm, Aunt Lilly got away third. But when Wrenn moved her down the backside, she gobbled up the early leader, RT Poco’s Lady, and triumphed by a length in 1:58.4. Pink Whiskey and Bringontheconfetti rounded out the ticket. TheStable Aunt Lilly Group campaigns Aunt Lilly.
Freedom Hill removed any suspense from her split by zipping to the front from post 3 and brooking no serious challenges. The daughter of What The Hill-Feelsofree scored in 1:58, 1/2 length better than Tacky Sugar, with Up third. Freedom Hill races for TheStable Freedom Hill Group.
In Saturday’s $21,200 Open Handicap Trot, Saint K rallied wide through the lane to pull off the 18-1 shocker for Chris Lems and trainer Sarah Andrews, who owns with Angela Cornell and Tessie Esry. The 6-year-old Sebastian K S-Mauresmo gelding prevailed in 1:53.3, x lengths ahead of Double Account, with the first-over Guido Di third. Saint K extended his career bankroll to $219,066.
Wrenn finished his outstanding day with six wins, including three for trainer Ron Burke, on the 13-race card while Dave Palone fashioned 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.