By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horsemen Helping Horsemen”
It took a gritty, sustained first-over move to do it, but Splendid extended his winning streak to seven in Saturday’s $97,854 Currier & Ives at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. Spaaaanzano was just as impressive in the other division of the 50th edition of the stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters, winning as he pleased on the front end.
Splendid’s previous six wins in the streak came off a variety of trips, but in the Currier & Ives, away fourth with no cover in sight, it appeared that the streak was in jeopardy. Winning driver Chris Lems, though, was confident in the ability of the son of Father Patrick-Long island Tea to triumph from that spot.
“He’ll do it however you want to do it,” Lems said. “He does it pretty much on his own. Actually, when everybody’s driving hard on his horse, it makes him go more.”
Splendid lived up to expectations, wearing down early leader E-Pass in deep stretch and holding off the Lightning Lane charge of Father Mike to down him by 1-3/4 lengths in a career-best 1:53.4. I’m Out rallied for show. Splendid boosted his lifetime bankroll north of $100,000.
Todd Rooney, who trains Splendid and owns with April Mance’s Trotting For Bourbon, indicated he intends to give the colt a month off . . . maybe.
“There are some races for him at Oak Grove, so I have to give it some thought,” Rooney said. “I’ll probably give him a well-deserved break.”
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.