Four $50,000 invitationals contested at The Meadows

August 01, 2009

Already a track record holder, Go On BB gunned down another Meadows mark Friday as she captured a $50,000 Filly & Mare Invitational Pace in 1:51.2, fastest ever at The Meadows by an older mare. The race was one of four $50,000 invitational events staged by The Meadows and funded by the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association as a special feature of Grand Circuit Week. Highlight of the week is Saturday's $677,665 final of the Delvin Miller Adios.

Go On BB already owned the track record of 1:50 for 4-year-old pacing mares, which also is the all-age track mark for fillies and mares. On Friday, she showed that she's getting better, not older, as she made a quarter-pole move to the lead for Dave Palone and held off the late charge of the first-over Makerbark, who was second by a neck. Natalie split horses late to claim third.

"I love this mare," Palone said. "Two of my favorite fillies on the grounds are Go On BB and Jans Luck; you can't separate them in terms of ability. To have both of them in the same stable is remarkable. They make you look good no matter how you drive them."

The victory extended the career bankroll of the 5-year-old daughter of Dontgetinmyway-Challo BB to $838,773. Ron Burke trains Go On BB for Frank Baldachino.

Hidden Viggorish demonstrated once again that she's the perfect homebody, scoring in 1:54.3 for Brian Zendt following a sub-par performance in the Armbro Flight at Mohawk. The 6-year-old daughter of SJ's Caviar-Tia Maria holds Meadows records for fastest miles by a filly or mare at three, four and older; her 2006 performance in 1:53.1 still stands as a world record. But trainer Bill Zendt confirmed she's a poor shipper, often tying up away from home.

"She was in detention in Canada and tied up," Zendt said. "She was no good. I mean she couldn't trot at all. Her blood wasn't perfect today, but she raced well. She's a good mare. It's a shame I can't race her against the good ones out of town. She's never on her game when we ship her."

Tom's OK Lady was a closing second, 3 1/2 lengths in arrears, with AJ's Baby third. Zendt said the owner of Hidden Viggorish, Harmony Springs Stable, has not yet decided whether to breed or race her next year.

On a day that showcased track record holders, War Boots earned his share of the spotlight, coming from well back to score in 1:51. Biletnikoff was second by a nose in the Lightning Lane while Noble Falcon was third.

War Boots' 1:49.4 mile last year was the fastest ever at The Meadows by a 4-year-old gelding, but a persistent ankle problem this year often has forced him from the Preferred ranks.

"He's part of the way back," trainer-driver Ray Paver said. "That ankle's been bothering him, and there's all the stuff he doesn't like, like mud and shadows. We tried a little something different on his ankle, and it seemed to help him a lot."

Shirley Mitchell owns War Boots, a 5-year-old son of Memphis Flash-Fancy Boots.

Master Begonia made a quarter-pole move for Palone and converted it to a comfortable victory in 1:54, 2 3/4 lengths better than All About Justice, with Vivid Photo third. Trainer Burke added Lasix before Master Begonia's last start, and Palone said that has made a difference.

"I was really happy with the way he raced last week, and I went into this race with a world of confidence," Palone said. "My plan was to go down swinging. He was so impressive first-time Lasix, I just didn't want to make a mistake and get caught in."

Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC own Master Begonia, a 6-year-old gelded son of Master Lavec-Shimma Begonia who triumphed for the seventh time in eight 2009 starts.

Bobnoxious became a millionaire when he won the opening race for Aaron Merriman, trainer Paul Kennedy Jr. and owners Daniel and Thomas Courtemanche, who have campaigned the 9-year-old gelded son of Nude Beach-Blue Autumn since early in his freshman season. His career earnings now stand at $1,005,801. (The Meadows)

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