by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — O Lucky Me flashed brilliant speed in winning the first two legs of the Quarter Mile Pace. In Friday’s (April 2) final, she demonstrated heart as well, thwarting a serious backside challenge to capture the $24,000 event for 3- and 4-year-old filly and mare trotters at The Meadows.

As he had in the previous legs, trainer/driver Ray Paver sent O Lucky Me toward the front, but congestion forced him to modify his plan.

“She gets so wound up, yet she was relaxed leaving, so I was fortunate to be able to drop over,” Paver said. “But when they tapped the brakes up front, I figured I better come with her.”

O Lucky Me found a seat third but moved to the lead past the quarter pole. The daughter of The Panderosa-Natchitoches had things her way until She’s An American and Tony Hall brushed up from third. When She’s An American edged away by a half-length, O Lucky Me dug in.

“I finally got her relaxed just as Tony came at me at 100 miles an hour,” Paver said. “Then I had to get her back in gear. But she responded well. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her.”

O Lucky Me prevailed by three-quarters of a length over She’s An American in 1:54.1, equaling the fastest mile this year by a 3-year-old filly trotter on a five-eighths-mile track. Sabine’s Filly was a ground-saving third.

Steve Jones bred and owns O Lucky Me, who is ticketed for another early-closing series at The Meadows and Pennsylvania Sires Stakes racing in the spring and summer.

Elsewhere on the card, Superfast Stuart, a 5-year-old son of Kadabra-Great Expectations, established a track record when he took a conditioned trot in 1:54.1. Hope’s Victory set the previous record for older trotting horses, 1:54.3, in 2005. Mike Wilder drove Superfast Stuart for trainer Greg Wright and owners Jon Erdner and Jim Schaming.

Aaron Merriman drove three winners on the 13-race card.