by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Dragonfest worked out a comfortable opening half on the lead, then fended off the pocket-sitting Riven Hanover to capture a division of the $70,200 Keystone Classic for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Monday (October 20) at The Meadows. In the second division, Dave Palone drove Up Front Bethann, a filly named for his wife, to a “Lightning Lane” victory.

Dragonfest went right to the lead for Mike Wilder and was able to slow things down with a second panel of :29.4 and front half in :57.1. But when Dragonfest sprinted for home, Riven Hanover stayed right with her. Dragonfest prevailed by a half-length in 1:53.3. Miss Marfa finished well back in third.

“She tries real hard,” said John Butenschoen, who trains the daughter of Dragon Again-Festive Spring for the partnership of Zilli, Zilli, Baron and Harmony Oaks Racing Stable. “If you look at her now, she’s probably as fat or fatter as she was when we started racing her this summer. She loves to eat, and she loves her work.”

A $14,000 yearling acquisition who has earned $282,352 in her career, Dragonfest is headed for the American-National and the Harrisburg sale. She also remains eligible for the Breeders Crown, which Butenschoen thinks will enhance her value.

“It’s not very often a person will go to a sale and get a chance to buy a horse that can race two weeks later in the Breeders Crown,” he said.

Up Front Bethann enjoyed a cozy pocket trip behind Intrinsic Value, then used the inside route to down that rival by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2. An unlucky Pavla Hanover, who lacked racing room, was third.

“I wanted to race her out of a hole, but I didn’t want to have to take her back,” said Palone, who drove six winners on the 16-race card. “She’s always been better for me when I went forward with her.”

Kelly O’Donnell trains Up Front Bethann, a daughter of Dragon Again-Matinee who has bankrolled $467,292 for C. Ed Mullinax.

In the $25,000 Preferred Pace, KF St Patrick was shuffled back to last at the half but used cover effectively to score a three-quarter length victory in 1:52 over Hennessy Hanover, with Marty’s Charm finishing third.

Brett Miller drove for trainer Mike Medors, who owns the 4-year-old son of Nobleland Sam-K F Pro’s Baby with Henry Kauffman.

Brian Zendt achieved a milestone when he surpassed $10 million in career earnings by guiding longshot Takingitforgranite to a second-place finish in the 14th race. The 32-year-old Zendt got a quick start on the next $10 million by piloting Hickory Horace to a victory in the 16th race.

A resident of nearby Houston, Zendt dipped his toes in the harness racing waters several times before getting serious about it at the age of 20. He had three years at Slippery Rock University under his belt but couldn’t resist the lure of driving.

“I wasn’t excited by the barn work and everything,” he said, “but when I got behind the gate some, I liked this business a lot more.”

He has driven such top horses as Always Cam and You Rock but says his biggest thrill was guiding the trotter Hidden Viggorish to her world record 1:53.1 mile at The Meadows in 2006.

“She’s not good all the time,” he said, “but when she’s good, it feels like her feet aren’t touching the ground.”

Zendt might not have warmed to the business immediately, but these days, he’s an all-around horseman. He trains eight horses, including three that he owns, and recently bred his mare Super Sixty to Chip Chip Hooray.

“I don’t see myself having a stable of 30 head,” he said. “The way my wife and I operate, doing things ourselves, is kind of fun.”

It has been a year of milestones for the Zendt family. Trainer/driver Bill Zendt, Brian’s father, drove his 3,000th career winner in June while Dave Palone, who is married to Brian’s sister Bethann, scored his 12,000th career driving victory in February.