Washington, PA — Emerald’s Legacy enjoyed comfortable fractions on top but still had to dig in to preserve his victory in Thursday’s (May 16) $21,200 Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

After Emerald’s Legacy quarter-poled to the point, Dave Palone gave him a :29.3 second-panel breather. The 5-year-old Father Patrick-Devilish Emerald-gelding was unchallenged until mid-stretch, when John Dutton and Ahundreddollarbill took their shots. Emerald’s Legacy held off John Dutton by a head in 1:53.2, with Ahundreddollarbill third.

Emerald’s Legacy outlasted a host of late challengers to win Thursday’s Open Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Chris Gooden photo.

Scott Betts trains Emerald’s Legacy, who boosted his lifetime bankroll to x$248,553 for Tim Betts, Nick Catalano, Keith Pippi and Shanamphilaniklou.

Ronnie Wrenn Jr. collected three wins on the 13-race card, including a pair for trainer Ron Burke.

Elsewhere on Thursday’s program, driver Chris Shaw enjoyed his first win since being sidelined by multiple serious injuries in a Sept. 28, 2021, race mishap. Shaw has been carefully picking spots for his return, with only 17 purse starts this year. His win Thursday came with Roger Hammer’s 4-year-old trotter Battin Athousand.

Friday’s (May 17) card at The Meadows features a pair of stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers: a $140,422 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and an $80,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event. Freshman champ Geocentric makes her seasonal debut in the sires stake, leaving from post one in race eight for Tim Tetrick. First post is 12:45 p.m.