by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Yonkers, NY — Palone Ranger picked a fine time to register his first win of the season.

Sidelined earlier this year because of a heart ailment and racing for the first time since October 7, Palone Ranger won the $546,830 Messenger Stakes by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:54.3 on Saturday night (Nov. 25) at Yonkers Raceway.

Ken Weingartner photo

Palone Ranger’s connections celebrate his Messenger victory.

The Messenger is the third leg of the Pacing Triple Crown. Total Truth won the first jewel, the Cane Pace, and Mr Feelgood won the second, the Little Brown Jug. Neither of those horses entered the Messenger.

Perfect Union led through the opening three-quarters of the race before Palone Ranger, who was third, came inside along the pylons to pull away from the field in the stretch. Perfect Union was second and Livestrong finished third.

Breeders Crown champ Shark Gesture got stuck on the outside at the half-mile point and faded to last place in the six-horse field.

Palone Ranger is trained by Greg Peck, who recently took over the training from Chris Ryder. He is owned by Four Friends Racing Stable and Perretti Racing Stable.

“It was a team effort,” Peck said. “The horse was great, but it starts with Perretti Farms; they raise the best horses in the business. I got a nice healthy horse and conditioned him well and Ronnie Pierce is the man; it was a very foxy drive on his part.”

Yonkers Raceway photo

Palone Ranger and Ron Pierce win the Messenger.

Palone Ranger was winless in eight races this year entering the Messenger. He won $385,757 in 2005 when he won a division of the Champlain and was second in the Metro.

“I was confident when I warmed him up tonight because I could see how he was getting around this track,” Peck said. “The only concern was he came in off a layoff, so you had to hope he was like a Thoroughbred and overcome it.

“It’s my biggest win and it feels good. This is a race with a lot of history; it’s a Triple Crown race and it’s a huge honor. Let’s just hope we keep it going.”