By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horesemen Helping Horsemen”
As she moved three wide near the three-quarters and prepared to circle the field, Fighting Evil had a glimpse of an unusual battle: full sisters Kele Kele and Think Of Galaxies (So Surreal-Lightning D Dube) dueling themselves to submission in a 26.4 third quarter.
Apparently less interested in history than in cash, Fighting Evil left the sibs in her wake and rolled to victory in Wednesday’s $21,200 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
Fighting Evil got away fifth, which became a great platform for an attack on the dueling sisters. When Dave Palone asked her for pace, the 6-year-old daughter of Sweet Lou-Evil Fight roared by to score in 1:51.1. Holi Starzzz A shot the Lightining Lane for second, 3/4 lrngths lengths back, while Kele Kele saved show.
Jack Smith trains Fighting Evil, who soared over $300,000 in career earnings, for Shannon Depinto and Howard Taylor.
Aaron Merriman and Palone each 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.