by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Washington, PA — Making his second start in the powerful Ron Burke stable, Count Me In collected a comfortable victory in Monday’s (Jan. 5) opening-day feature, an $18,000 Winners Over Life/Preferred Handicap Trot, at The Meadows.

Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, M1 Stable and Michelle Yanek purchased Count Me In last month and he returned immediate dividends with a place finish in an Open Handicap at Northfield. On Monday, he was pocketed early by TSM Photo Bugger, retook for Dave Palone and cruised home in 1:54.3. Classicality rallied for second, two lengths back, with the first-over Andoversure third.

A 6-year-old Full Count-Howl gelding, Count Me In now boasts $365,469 in career earnings.

Palone piloted five winners on the 15-race card while Tony Hall and Mike Wilder each enjoyed a triple.