Washington, PA — Unraced at 2 and unheralded at 3 when he burst on the scene with outstanding performances in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes and the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids, Wild Wild Western is the 2019 Horse of the Year at The Meadows. He also was named Pacer of the Year and 3-year-old colt/gelding Pacer of the Year.

Maewegonow, a hard-hitting mare who took on the track’s best all season, was named Trotter of the Year and Older Mare Trotter of the Year.

The awards were announced and presented at Saturday’s “Day of Champions” at The Meadows, when 10 other divisional champions also received their awards. The winners were selected by a vote of Meadows Standardbred Owners Association (MSOA) members.

The connections of Wild Wild Western, Horse of the Year at The Meadows, accepted the award from Kim Hankins, executive director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association. Chris Gooden photo.

Trained by Norm Parker for Jeff Weaver’s Jacobs Creek Racing, Andrew Altobelli and John Deters, Wild Wild Western began his season in late-closing series at The Meadows. With Mike Wilder at the helm, he was so impressive he was promoted to the PASS, where he won a split and finished second in two others. That earned the son of Western Ideal-Caila Fra, a $55,000 yearling acquisition, a ticket to the Adios. He showed he belonged with top competition by finishing third in his elimination and fourth in the final captured by Southwind Ozzi.

He locked horns with Southwind Ozzi again in the PASS final, finishing a more-than-respectable third to the champ. Wild Wild Western won eight times this year and took a mark of 1:51.2f, compiling a bankroll of $189,593.

Whether in against fillies and mares or facing the track’s top male trotters, Maewegonow was strong and consistent all year. The 5-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Mauresmo, trained by Richard Perfido for Thomas Mattingly, won eight races and $96,215 this year to extend her career earnings to $366,456. A modest $18,000 yearling purchase, she took her life mark of 1:53.4f this year in an Open 2 Handicap that included males.

In Saturday’s racing, Camera Lady blazed the back half in :55.2 — over a “good” surface — and notched an easy 1:53.3 victory for Ronnie Wrenn Jr., trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. The winner’s stablemate, McDazzle, finished second, 1-3/4 lengths back, with Amelias Courage A third. A 5-year-old daughter of Dragon Again-Ann Van Go, Camera Lady now boasts $435,038 in career earnings.

Jim Pantaleano, Burke and Wrenn each collected three wins on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the program features a mandatory payout of the $105,000.96 jackpot in the final-race Super Hi-5. The day’s final Pick-4, Pick-5 and Superfecta also are “must pay.” First post Monday is 1:05 p.m.

Others receiving Day of Champions awards were:

2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Pacer — Dracarys Z
Trainer: Carl Cocciolone Owners: Carl Cocciolone, Mark Sosovicka, Nick Catalano, Dana Kahrig

2-Year-Old Filly Pacer — Coral Reef Hanover
Trainer: Dan Altmeyer Owners: Dan Altmeyer, Richard Kelson, Lone Wolf Stables, Walter Gesek Stable

2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trotter — Stickler Hanover
Trainer: Steve Schoeffel Owners: Virginia Schoeffel, Kathy Schoeffel, Daniel Goehle, Michael Munn

2-Year-Old Filly Trotter — Friday Night Storm
Trainer: Ray Romanetti Owners: Lori Romanetti, Bernadette Luketich-Sikaras

3-Year-Old Filly Pacer — April Ava
Trainer: Scott Betts Owners: Nick Catalano, Tim Betts

3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding Trotter — Explosive Form
Trainer: Norm Parker Owners: George Romanoff, Mark Goldstein, Norm Parker Stable

3-Year-Old Filly Trotter — Lindy Misssunshine
Trainer: Wilbur Yoder Owner: Richard Hess

Older Horse Pacer — Dapper Dude
Trainer: Tim Twaddle Owner: Micki Rae Stables

Older Mare Pacer — Touchamatic
Trainer: Bill Bercury Owner: Renee Bercury

Older Horse Gelding/Trotter — Bluebird Jesse
Trainer: Sarah Andrews Owners: John McGill, Adam Friedland