Washington, PA – Rock N Teen let Zanetti do the heavy lifting on the front end, then blew by him in the lane to score in a career-best 1:53, fastest division in Friday’s (March 6) Wilbur Zendt Memorial Pace at The Meadows.  Gumption and Arrhythmic Storm also captured $12,500 opening-leg splits in the event for 3- and 4-year-old colts, stallions and geldings.

Mike Wilder guided Rock N Teen to victory in one of the three legs of the Wilbur Zendt Memorial Pace contested at The Meadows Friday. Chris Gooden Photos.

The series honors the memory of Zendt, a trainer, driver and patriarch of one of The Meadows most prominent and successful clans. It’s one of four late-closing events that kicked off this week at The Meadows, with the championship leg of each set for Friday, March 20.

Zanetti reeled off a blistering 1:23.3 three-quarters, making him vulnerable to the pocket-sitting Rock N Teen. Indeed, when Mike Wilder cut him loose, the 3-year-old Rock N Roll Hanover-Dance With Me Tina gelding roared passed and defeated Zanetti by 1-3/4 lengths. Chicken Nugget completed the ticket. Norm Parker trains Rock N Teen for owner-breeder Bob Key.

Tony Hall collected four wins on the 13-race card, including three for trainer Scott Betts, while Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke each enjoyed a triple.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday (March 10) when the program features an $18,605.15 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5 and a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick-4 (races three through six). First post is 1:05 p.m.