from harness publicists across North America

Wednesday’s (April 2) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows and Buffalo Raceway.

Magic Wheel takes Meadows feature; Merriman wins six

Washington, PA — Magic Wheel sat comfortably behind 3-5 favorite Unefoisdansmavie, then blew by her in the Lightning Lane to capture Wednesday’s $18,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Unefoisdansmavie cut out a leisurely :59 first half and appeared poised for an easy victory. But when Dan Charlino guided Magic Wheel to the Lightning Lane, the 6-year-old Kadabra-Ws Balanced Wheel mare had little trouble putting away Unefoisdansmavie, downing her by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.2. Mistress Valentine also shot the Lightning Lane for show.

Kris Hite trains Magic Wheel, who now boasts $528,220 in career earnings, for Tom Svrcek.

Aaron Merriman drove six winners on the 15-race card, capping his spectacular day by urging Delightful One home at 18-1.

— Evan Pattak

Buffalo Raceway
St Lads Zena was assigned the inside post in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Buffalo Raceway Wednesday evening and used that advantage to edge out Delightful Syd by a nose in 1:57.2. Scoring from the one hole, the favored St Lads Zena (Ron Beback, Jr.) played give-and-go with Taylor Rei to the opening quarter marker. It was then a matter if the front-running St Lads Zena had any takers from the six remaining mares in the stretch run. She had plenty, but gamely held them off thanks to a :28.3 last panel. Delightful Syd (John Cummings, Jr.) scooted down the lightning lane but lost by a heart-breaking nose in the photo while third place finisher Taylor Rei (Ray Fisher, Jr.) finished just three-quarters of a length behind. It was the first victory of the season at Buffalo Raceway and second of the year for St Lads Zena who had been racing at London and Woodbine earlier in 2014. The 5-year-old mare (Apaches Fame-Natural Ingredient) is owned by Keith Pinkowski and trained by Mihajlo Zdjelar, Jr. She has bankrolled $17,190 this year and $86,950 lifetime.