By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horsemen Helping Horsemen” photo Guido Di by Chris Gooden
Frustrated by four straight races in which his huge first-over bids came up a touch short, Guido Di took matters into his own hands Thursday at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, leading at every call to capture the $21,200 Open Handicap Trot.
Brady Brown sent Guido Di to the point from post 3, where the 5-year-old Wishing Stone-Focus On Me gelding easily thwarted the challenge of the first-over Commander Frank and the Lightning Lane bid of the 7-5 favorite, Tequila Talkin. Guido Di triumphed in a career-best 1:52, 1-3/4 lengths better than Tequila Talkin, with the ground-saving Good Feeln To Know third.
Steve Schoeffel trains Guido Di, who now boasts a career bankroll of $318,208, for Kathy Schoeffel, Lewis Falton and Marian Schilling.
Aaron Merriman piloted four winners and Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. three on the 15-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.