Casper makes friends with bettors at Meadows

Casperdfrendlyhors was frighteningly good on Tuesday at The Meadows, using a pocket trip to take the $13,000 opening leg of the South Strabane Trot, a series for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

Unraced at two, Casperdfrendlyhors broke stride in his career debut but now has ripped off three consecutive wins for trainer-owner Bill Bercury. On Tuesday, the gelded son of SJ's Photo settled in behind race leader Pembroke Lane before Dick Stillings asked him for pace in the lane. He responded with a final quarter in :28.1 and a one-length victory over Pembroke Lane in a nifty 1:57.1. Muscles Rule was a distant third.

The series final, with an estimated $40,000 purse, is set for April 22.

In the $18,000 Open Handicap Trot for fillies and mares, BV's Sister resumed her winning ways with a one-length victory in 1:55.4 with Mike Wilder aboard. The daughter of Big Victory won all eight of her starts last year at three but began this year with a second-place finish followed by a race in which she made an uncharacteristic break. Keystone Celeste, who provided cover for the winner's backside brush, was second, with In Focus Hanover third. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains BV's Sister for Barnett Zimmerman LLC.

The Tuesday card also featured the 3-year-old debut of Pizzazzed, who earned $213,696 at two for trainer-driver Roger Hammer and Fox Valley Standardbreds, including victories in a Tompkins-Geers division and an Ontario Sire Stakes Gold Final. If Hammer was looking for a tightener for the Kadabra colt, he got that and more.

Pizzazzed was parked four wide to the quarter in a conditioned event, eventually getting to the front in fractions of :27.4 and :57. He tired badly and finished seventh. Tripdownmemorylane came first-over to win for Dave Palone, one of the driver's six victories on the card. (The Meadows)

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