By Tyler Stillings for Meadows Standardbred Owners Association
The Friday, June 26 card at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows gave racing fans a featured attraction in the Currier & Ives Trot for 3-year-old colts, along with a glimpse of the future in two Pop-Up Series divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Endurance lived up to his name in the $90,675 Currier & Ives for 3-year-old colt trotters, overcoming post nine in the 10-horse field to establish a stakes record with a 1:52.4 victory.
Unhurried early, regular driver Andrew McCarthy avoided the brisk early fractions and settled mid-pack. When Hamlet Hall moved first-over, McCarthy followed at the three-eighths, but stalled cover left Endurance three-wide approaching the five-eighths. As the leaders began to tire, Endurance and McCarthy found room along the rail and held off Hamlet Hall to secure the victory.
A 3-year-old son of Captain Corey, Endurance now owns nine wins in 12 starts and has earned more than $750,000 for trainer Chris Beaver and owners Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, and Mark Moger.
The two Pop-Up Series divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies produced a pair of impressive front-end performances.
In the opening division, the Brown-Schoeffel team captured the victory with That’s Faith. Driver Brady Brown guided the Stay Hungry filly patiently through three-quarters in 1:31.4 before asking her for more turning for home. Joined late by pocket-sitter Ea Gator Soup, That’s Faith paced her final quarter in :27.4 to prevail by a head in 1:59.3, with a back half of :58.2.
That’s Faith was a $17,000 yearling purchase and is owned by Kathy Schoeffel, Roger Romesser, Marian Schilling, and Brett Schoeffel.
In the second Pop-Up Series division, Mike Wilder sent Iwillalwayslouveu to the lead, reaching the half in :58.2 with a two-length advantage. After a comfortable backside, the daughter of Sweet Lou printed home in :27.2 to score an eight-length victory in 1:55.1.
Trained by Ron Burke, Iwillalwayslouveu was bred by and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, LLC, and Weaver Bruscemi, LLC.
On the 12-race program, drivers Brady Brown, Mike Wilder, Justin Irvine, and Andrew McCarthy each recorded driving doubles. The Ron Burke stable was the only training operation to post multiple victories, winning twice.
Racing resumes Saturday afternoon with a 13-race card. The first post is scheduled for 12:45 p.m.