Washington, PA — Despite being widest in a three-ply duel for the early lead, Tequila Talkin persevered and won for the 12th time this year in Thursday’s (Oct. 20) $21,200 Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

It took Tequila Talkin and Dave Palone the entire opening panel to reach the top and cross over, but the comfortable front half of :58 left the 7-year-old Cantab Hall-Margarita Nights gelding with plenty in the tank. He defeated the rallying Predator And Prey by a length in 1:55.1, with the first-over Whiskey Blu third.

Tequila Talkin won for the 12th time this season, keeping Predator And Pay a length at bay. Chris Gooden photo.

Ron Burke trains Tequila Talkin, who lifted his career bankroll to $324,223, for Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Elsewhere on Thursday’s card, trainer Scarlett Wilder scored her initial win in harness racing when America First triumphed in the day’s final contest. The winning trainer is the daughter of driver Mike Wilder and Heather Wilder, president of the Keystone Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association and popular host and interviewer for special events and broadcasts.

Mike Wilder collected four wins, including that milestone victory for his daughter, while Palone enjoyed a triple.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday (Oct. 21), when the 10-race program features a pair of carryovers: $6,627.39 in the final-race Super Hi-5 and $3,366.77 in the Jackpot Pick-5 (races 4-8). First post is 12:45 p.m.