Sir Caviar rebounds in Meadows top trot; Palone wins four

Washington, PA— Rebounding from an uncharacteristic break, Sir Caviar held off a fierce challenge by Sharp Edge and captured Monday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Sir Caviar’s poor performance last week followed a sickness scratch, but the 6-year-old SJ’s Caviar-Sierra Flower K gelding looked like his old self Monday, particularly when confronted by the first-over Sharp Edge. He dug in for Brian Zendt and downed Sharp Edge by a neck in 1:53.2, a tick off his own track record. Tough Call was fourth placed third after the disqualification of Break The Bank K for running in the lane.

Leslie Zendt trains Sir Caviar, who now boasts $417,769 in career earnings, and owns with Bill Zendt. It was one of three wins on the 16-race card for Brian Zendt.

With his four victories, Dave Palone lifted his career win total to 15,147 as he pursues Herve Filion’s North American record of 15,180.

— Evan Pattak

Harrington Raceway
Racing fans that may have missed the showdown between As Bad As Thunder and Wind Me Up in last week’s $18,000 Open Pace probably weren’t disappointed with round two. Elizabeth Brittingham’s As Bad As Thunder ($3.80, Bret Brittingham) won a stirring stretch duel over Wind Me Up in 1:51.3 on Monday at Harrington Raceway. Sent off as the co-favorite at odds of 4-5, Wind Me Up (Montrell Teague) left the starting gate hard to gain the early lead before relinquishing to As Bad As Thunder at the opening quarter in :26.3. As Bad As Thunder then marched to fractions of :54.4 and 1:23.3 before Wind Me Up tipped to the outside at the top of the stretch and battled gamely to the wire, but ultimately was denied by a head at the finish for the second straight week. As Bad As Thunder, a 6-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding, won his ninth race of the season and third straight. He has earned nearly $95,000 in 2012 for trainer Don Brittingham. Q Rock held position to finish third.

Tioga Downs
Tioga Downs hosted a special Monday night racing program, with Big Bay Point capturing the $16,500 Open Pace. Leaving from post one, driver Lewayne Miller hustled Big Bay Point off the rail early to protect position, settling in third as Vlos (Eric Carlson) and Winbak Dimensions (Jim Marohn, Jr.) battled to an opening quarter of :26.2. As the field headed past the three-eighths mark, Carlson was unwilling to turn the lead over to Marohn with Winbak Dimensions and the duo battled through a half in :54.1. Heading towards three-quarters, Winbak Dimensions called it quits and Miller pulled Big Bay Point from the pocket to apply immediate pressure on the leader past the pole in 1:22.1. However, Vlos reached down and found more, continuing to battle Big Bay Point through deep stretch, but tired late in the mile as Big Bay Point won by a half-length in 1:51.4. The win was the fourth of the year for Big Bay Point, a 5-year-old son of Camluck–Great Memories for trainer Cory Deyermand. Vlos raced an impressive mile to be second, while Hay Goodlooking (Rick Plano) paced home late for third. Lewayne Miller posted a driving grand slam on the night’s 12-race card, while Fern Paquet, Jr. and Greg Merton each recorded driving doubles.