by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Out and uncovered before the three-eighths, a determined Itsghostlyoutside ground out a gutsy victory Wednesday (March 28) in the $27,400 championship of the Mary Wohlmuth Memorial Trot for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares at The Meadows.

Itsghostlyoutside was sitting sixth while Maxine The Mighty was threatening to trot off from the field. That was the signal for Randy Tharps to move the 4-year-old daughter of Tom Ridge-Yankee Dreamboat.

Chris Gooden photo

Itsghostlyoutside was a 1:56.4 winner in the $27,400 championship of the Mary Wohlmuth Memorial Trot.

“I wasn’t as concerned about her being out as I was about them getting away from me up there,” Tharps said. “She finished strong. She still had something left in the lane. After she broke two starts back, we tried earplugs on her. That calmed her down behind the car. I popped the plugs heading down the backside. She’s come a long way.”

Itsghostlyoutside needed the entire stretch to wear down Maxine The Mighty and defeat that rival by three-quarters of a length in a career-best 1:56.4. Bonbon rallied from last to earn show.

Kris Rickert trains Itsghostlyoutside for Dale Wareham. It was the second consecutive victory in a series final for Tharps following his win with Livelikeurdying in Tuesday’s final of the John Sitzer Memorial Pace.

In the $22,500 Preferred Trot, Springboard moved third over and rallied in the lane to triumph in 1:55.2, a length better than Wind Surfer, with Rembrandt Spur third.

Tony Hall drove for trainer Miles Wollam, who co-owns the 8-year-old SJ’s Photo-Spring Serenade gelding with Patricia Wollam. Springboard boosted his career bankroll to $431,002.

Elsewhere on the card, Frost Bites K prevailed in 1:56.1, lowering his own national season’s record for sophomore trotting colts on a five-eighths-mile track. Dave Palone was aboard the son of Broadway Hall-American Frost for trainer Rich Gillock and owner/breeder Bob Key.

Palone drove five winners on the 15-race card while Tony Hall, Eric Ledford and Wollam each enjoyed a three-bagger.