by Adam Packard, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Trainer Rodney Bolon sent Gold Fever and Real Hanover to the gate in Saturday’s (Jan. 20) $12,400 Preferred Pace at The Meadows and the duo finished one–two.

Gold Fever, owned by James Snyder, followed the cover set by stablemate Real Hanover and tipped wide in the stretch to narrowly defeat Real Hanover by a nose in 1:54.1. Doug Snyder drove Gold Fever to his 30th lifetime victory. Real Hanover, also owned by James Snyder, finished second in his Meadows return for driver Rodney Bolon.

Owner James Snyder took home 75% ($9,300) of the purse money in the $12,400 Preferred Pace, after his horses finished first and second.

Artbitration wins distaff feature

Artbitration, a 6-year-old Artiscape mare, got a perfect two-hole trip behind favored Jamie’s Character and scored a neck victory in the $9,400 Filly and Mares Preferred Pace on Friday (Jan. 19) at The Meadows, in 1:56.

Driver Mike Wilder had Artbitration on the front at the first quarter (:27), but gave way to heavily favored Jamie’s Character prior to the half. Soft middle fractions of :30.2 and :29.2 led one to believe that Jamie’s Character would have enough left in the tank to withstand her rivals, but being parked to the first quarter did her in.

The long first-over bid by Love The Game was a solid move, but took too much out of the 5-year-old mare. Artbitration moved to the lightning lane in the stretch and narrowly defeated Love The Game and the fast closing Scoot To Connect by a neck. Love The Game and Scoot To Connect finished in a dead heat for place.

Artbitration is owned by Thomas Klosky, Jr. and is trained by Norm Parker. For her career, Artbitration has 19 wins in 55 starts and has banked $574,681 in purse earnings.

Rosebud Sioux blossoms late

Rosebud Sioux, owned by the Dunn Stable, got her initial victory of 2007 in the $7,500 Filly and Mare Open Trot in 1:58.1.

The 5-year-old mare fell a nose short to Sea Urchin Hanover last week, but a :28.4 final quarter this week ensured Rosebud Sioux the victory.

Right from the start driver Brian Zendt put Rosebud Sioux in a great spot. She got away fifth at the first quarter, as longshot I Like Stephanie was cutting the mile and favored Sea Urchin Hanover was forced into a first-over move. Zendt and Rosebud Sioux drafted behind Sea Urchin Hanover till the final turn and when she tipped three-wide she responded and drew away in the lane to win by 2-3/4 lengths. Sea Urchin Hanover held the place spot and Anastasia Broadway closed up the inside to finish third.

The win marked the 25th of Rosebud Sioux’s career. She has collected $191,375 in purses.

Whotookwhat wins third in a row

Whotookwhat, a 5-year-old trotting mare, defeated a field of six preferred trotters on Friday night in 1:57.2.

Just-N-Bail-E was the early leader throughout most of the mile, but driver Ray Paver put his mare, Whotookwhat, in the two-hole and waited for the lightning lane to make their move. She made her move in the stretch and went by Just-N-Bail-E with ease, but had to hold off the late charge of Durgin Hanover to win by a half length.

Whotookwhat is owned by William and Barbara Paull and is trained by Paver. The win marks her third in as many starts.

Stonebridge Prima wins with ease

Trainer Mike Palone got a fresh face in his barn this past week in the likes of a 4-year-old mare named Stonebridge Prima. The daughter of Camluck has recently been knocking heads with top mares north of the border, at Chester Downs and at the Meadowlands. She came to the Meadows off a third place finish in a conditioned event at the Meadowlands, where she finished third, but paced in 1:53.

Top driver Dave Palone got the call from his brother Mike and Stonebridge Prima didn’t disappoint in her Meadows debut, winning easily in 1:55.2 in the $6,300 Filly and Mares Not Listed Preferred.

Stonebridge Prima is owned by Black Horse Racing and Perretti Racing Stable of New Jersey.