by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Border Fighting knifed through the slop with ease in Tuesday’s (April 19) Valentowner Pace at The Meadows, capturing his sixth straight race and stamping himself as the favorite in next week’s series final. Fall Bliss and Zipnthruthehall also took $15,000 second leg divisions in the series for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Dave Palone allowed Border Fighting to float away from the gate third but sent him to the front with a decisive quarter-pole move. The I Am A Fool-Magic Moments gelding put away the field with a sizzling :27.4 third panel and went on to score by two lengths in 1:53.1, equaling his career best. Jolly Jubiter was second, with Home Again Dragon third. Ron Burke trains Border Fighting, who has won eight of 12 lifetime starts, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Joseph DiScala, Jr. and Cynthia Massari.

Fall Bliss was sent off the 4-5 favorite but had to erase a seven length deficit down the backside to win his third straight for Brett Miller in 1:54.2, a head better than the closing Smile A Little. Loadedupntruckin finished third. Del S. Miller trains Fall Bliss, a Blissfull Hall-Fall Festival ridgling, for Horseshoe Road Farm.

In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot, Jesse’s Messenger, Ohio’s champion filly trotter at 2 and 3, successfully launched her 4-year-old campaign with a facile first-over victory in 1:55.3 for Brett Miller. Action-Broadway rallied for second, two lengths back, while Digital Pix was third.

Kent Sherman trains Jesse’s Messenger, a daughter of Jailhouse Jesse-Laser Message who has won 16 of 23 lifetime starts and $291,560, for Daryl Sherman.

Mike Wilder drove six winners — three for trainer Randy Bendis — while Brett Miller fashioned a triple on the 15-race card.