By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horsemen Helping Horsemen”
Trailing by 2 lengths at the top of the lane, Gung Ho exploded with a wide burst that carried him past the leader, Liteningonthebeach, and on to a narrow victory, his second straight, in Friday’s feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, a $15,900 Conditioned Pace.
Gung Ho was content to save ground in fifth while Liteningonthebeach was throwing down an ambitious 1:22 three-quarters. But when Justin Walters asked him for pace, the 4-year-old Captaintreacherous-Silky gelding found another gear and edged Liteningonthebach by a head in a career-best 1:50. So Many Roads finished third.
Ron Burke trains Gung Ho, who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $149,572, for Burke Racing Stable, M1 Stable, Elizabeth Jones and Beasty LLC.
Hunter Myers and Dave Palone each enjoyed a triple on the 12-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.