Delicious bided her time off fast fractions, then brushed
late to capture a division of Friday�s $82,471 Arden Downs Stake at The
Meadows in a stake record 1:55.2.
The Grand Circuit event for three-year-old filly
trotters, known as the Ned McCarr, was contested
over three divisions, with Miss Chip K and Ciao
Dough taking the other splits. Aaron Merriman
enjoyed a stake double with Delicious and Ciao
Dough.
Delicious broke stride in her last start, a
Pennsylvania Sires Stake, but she followed
comfortably Friday while Sequin Hanover sped through
a wicked 1:24.4 three-quarters. When the weary
leader broke stride in the stretch, Delicious
pounced, out-kicking Taylor Jean and downing her by
four lengths. Cantab Cabela was third. The time
knocked two ticks off the previous Ned McCarr mark
established by MMs Lioness last year.
�The horse to beat was on the front, and she just
got punished,� Merriman said. �I benefited from it.
She�s a pleasure to drive, a real professional. If
she gets a little bigger and a little more mature,
she�ll show even more than she did today.�
Ron Gurfein trains Delicious, a daughter of
Cantab Hall-Ipsara LB, for Patrick Quaid and Jerry
Silva.
A 14-1 long shot,
Miss Chip K overcame her recent gaiting
problems, followed cover and nailed Blue Yonder at
the wire by three-quarters of a length in a
lifetime-best 1:56 for Mike Wilder. The first-over
Upfront Bye Bye was third.
�They added hopples and a Murphy blind on the
left, and there were no problems,� Wilder said. �She
was fantastic. She couldn�t have been any better.�
Charlie Norris trains Miss Chip K, a daughter of
Chip Chip Hooray-American Miss K, for owner-breeder
Bob Key.
Ciao Dough charged through the Lightning Lane to
get her victory for trainer Aaron Hamilton and owner
En Mar Stable. Powell Blue Chip was second, with
early leader Shanty Irish third.
�Her only vice is behind the gate,� said Merriman
of the daughter of Chip Chip Hooray-Rising Dough.
�You can�t put her close to the gate or she�ll make
a break. But she�s an honest horse, who gives her
all.��
Redder Than Red, a fairground phenom dismissed
at 20-1, graduated to raceway stake winner by
rallying late and wide to capture a division of the
$65,864 James Manderino, a Grand Circuit stake for
three-year-old colt and gelding trotters, in 1:56.
Wing Tips was second by a head, with Beluga Ridge
third.
�He really exceeded my expectations,� said
winning driver Tony Hall. �I know he�s super-hot, so
I was just trying to keep him flat and race him from
behind. It worked out a lot better than I thought it
would. He was good once I settled him down, but
getting him off the gate was tough.�
Boots Dunn conditions Redder Than Red, an SJs
Caviar-Chaka Khan gelding, for Dunn Stable.
Rock N Jessie took the other Manderino split in
1:56.2 for Dave Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owners
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Howard
Taylor and Slaughter Racing Stable. Boytown split
horses late for second, one and a quarter lengths
back, with Kingstone third.
�He�s been a little quirky with the gate,� Palone
said of the Jailhouse Jesse-Just Plain Denise
gelding. �I think it was a blessing in disguise that
he drew post eight because I was just going to send
him all or naught and hope I got him out of there on
the right foot. He�s a little bit of a slow learner.
This may get him pointed in the right direction.�
Elsewhere on the card, Trotslikethewind won the
$22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot in 1:54
for Hall and owner-trainer Andy Rickert. The
seven-year-old Pegasus Spur-Familiar Goal mare won
for the 26th time in 75 career starts and extended
her career bankroll to $263,615.
The Meadows
