By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horsemen Helping Horsemen” photo by Chris Gooden
Munster Mash Trick dug in late to capture his second straight Pop-Up Series win in Friday action at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Also winning $10,000 divisions in the event for freshman colt and gelding trotters were LT Loverboy, Battle Hill and Twofiftychamp, who broke his maiden in a stake-fastest 1:57.
Munster Mash Trick pulled the pocket down the backside but could not shake the dogged Rose Run ATM, who was used three times during the mile. But the Father Patrick-Munster gelding dug in for Brady Brown and held off his game rival by a neck in 1:59.1. Bell Hall finished third.
Steve Schoeffel trains Munster Mash Trick for Kathy Schoeffel, Stephen Lander, Fred Dowling and Maximus Melik.
Pop-Up Series — 2-Year-Old Filly Trotters
Friday’s card also featured the second leg of a Pop-Up Series for freshman filly trotters, with Blueberry, Brink Street and Mocha Hill taking the $10,000 splits. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. and trainer Rom Burke enjoyed a Pop-Up double with Brink Street and Mocha Hill.
Blueberry “prepped” for Friday’s race, so to speak, with a respectable third-place finish in a $79,399 Pennsylvania Sires Stake division. The effect of the class drop was evident, as Blueberry thwarted the late bid of Tacky Sugar and defeated her for Brian Zendt by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:58.1. Dianne Hanover completed the ticket.
Doug Snyder trains Blueberry, a daughter of Father Patrick-Perfect Image, for Geraldine Poerio.
Dave Palone collected three wins on the 13-race card.
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.