By: Tyler Stillings for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows’ Thursday afternoon card was highlighted by two Currier & Ives 3-year-old filly trot races on the card and three Pop Up Series divisions later to keep the crowd’s attention.
The first Currier & Ives division of the day, worth a purse of $28, 662, saw Ginger Tree Lex and Dave Palone quick off the car to establish their position on the lead. Before the teletimer could flash 27.4, Ronnie Wrenn Jr had Victorianas Secret moving to the lead on their way to a 56.3 opening half. With no backside movement, the race set up for a final quarter sprint, and Victorianas Secret would battle every step of the stretch to hold off pocket sitter Ginger Tree Lex by a neck in 1:53.1, 28.3 final panel. Victorianas Secret, a daughter of Tactical Landing, is owned in Ohio by Ryan Smith and trained to victory by Vernon Beachy.
The $29,162 division of The Currier & Ives was never in doubt. Brian Zendt sent Faster Horses aggressively to the lead from post five and a 27.4 opening quarter. Zendt sat comfortably through an easy enough 57.3 opening half and it would not be till the ¾’s in 1:25.1 that the plugs were kicked out and the Chris Beaver trainee responded by posting a wrapped up 1:54 victory. Owned by Chris Beaver, Carolina Acosta, Steve Zeehandelar, and Leo Fleming. Faster Horses, by Muscle Up the Goal, was also bred by Chris Beaver.
Chris Gooden Photo
The first early Pop-up Series saw Lou Armstrong and Anthony McDonald put in the fastest and most impressive 2YO performance of the day. Trained by Tim Twaddle, Lou Armstrong turned a 59.4 first half into a 1:56.1, seven-length romp with a 28 final quarter. Lou Armstrong, a gelded son of Cuarto De Julio, was bred in Ontario by The Stable My Jazz Group and is owned in Ohio by The Stable Lou Armstrong.
After sending Faster Horses to victory in her Currier & Ives, Chris Beaver debuted Commander Moni, and like his stablemate, he delivered on the lead. Mike Wilder had the son of Ready For Moni over to the half in 1:00.2, which set up a 1:58.2 two-length victory in his career debut. Command Moni was a $21,000 Blooded Horse Sale purchase for owners, Commander Moni Stables, Mark Schwartz, and Mark Robinson, all of Ohio.
Brady Brown moved Hades Hanover from third past the 5/8 and would successfully navigate a break by the leader and hold off a two-pronged attack in his career debut. a 1:59.1 win. The gelded son of Greenshoe is owned by Kathy Schoeffel, Maxx Fortune Stable, and Roger Romesser. Hades Hanover is from the Brown / Schoeffel operation that had Smokin Guns represent themselves well in an earlier Pop-up Series Division.
For the day, Mike Wilder and Jeremy Indof shared driving honors with three wins each. On the trainer’s side, a trio of trainers, Chris Beaver, Tim Twaddle, and Steve Schoeffel, all had two victories.
Hollywood Casio at The Meadows will resume racing Friday, June 26, with the first race post at 5:10 pm. The evening’s card will feature a 10-horse Currier & Ives 3YO colt trot going for a purse of $90,675.