by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — Maria Andersson and Celebrity Playboy, the only horse in the field who had raced under saddle this year, used that experience well as they scored a front-end victory in 2:04.1 in Wednesday’s (Nov. 7) special Racing Under Saddle Invitational at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden photo

Maria Andersson and Celebrity Playboy were the winners in 2:04.1.

Andersson and Celebrity Playboy got the early jump on Dana Mock and Keystone Bernard, who chased the winner home but fell 3-1/4 lengths short. They were the only finishers in the five-horse field, as Wendy Ross (Dontevenknowmymame) and Julie Allison (Y-Dat) broke stride and pulled up, and Nadine Habke (Catch K D) was scratched for refusing to approach the gate.

Ron Burke trains Celebrity Playboy, an 8-year-old Yankee Glide-Clover Mist gelding, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Twenty percent of the race’s $6,000 purse was contributed to a Pittsburgh breast cancer awareness program.

Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi also captured the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace when NY Yankees won her third straight for Dave Palone in 1:53.3. The pocket-sitting Tremor Hanover was second by a half-length while Hillbilly Desire finished third after a menacing first-over bid.

A 4-year-old daughter of The Panderosa-Pan Yankees, NY Yankees extended her career bankroll to $244,608.

Tony Hall drove five winners and Palone three — all for Burke — on the 15-race card.