Tidewater Tomahawk overcame a brutal trip to win a stirring stretch duel with Arctic Warrior and capture a Keystone Classic division for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers in 1:51.4 Tuesday at The Meadows. Wambam Sam took the other split in the $101,200 event for Pennsylvania-breds.
Leaving from post seven, Tidewater Tomahawk was parked three wide to the quarter before finding a spot third along the pylons. Dave Palone moved the son of Western Hanover-Kayla Paige first over to engage Arctic Warrior in a third panel that went in 27. The two were inseparable until the wire where Tidewater Tomahawk shoved his nose in front.
“I gained a lot of respect for this little horse tonight,” Palone said. “To sit outside Arctic Warrior like that and wear him down takes a pretty good horse. Going into the last turn he grabbed the right line. I had to straighten him up and lost a little momentum — not enough to really stop him. He’s a fighter.”
Ron Burke trains Tidewater Tomahawk, who pushed his career bankroll past $100,000, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and JJK Stables.
Aaron Merriman drove Arctic Warrior in that narrow loss, but it was Merriman who produced some stretch magic of his own in the other division. He sent Wambam Sam uncovered to the lead in a blistering 26.4 third panel, then helped the son of Real Artist-Roses For Sammie hold on by 3/4 lengths over Pedro Island in a career-best 1:52. Star Of The Game completed the ticket.
“I was a little worried that he would tire after that third quarter,” Merriman said. “But sometimes in that situation you can get away from them. They have to work just as hard to catch you. He weakened a little bit, but he was game to the wire. He was just waiting to race them.”
George Teague Jr. trains Wambam Sam, who also became a $100,000 performer, for George Teague, Jr. Inc. and Let Me Out Stable. In the $27,500 Preferred Handicap Pace, Merriman was lethal in the lane again, guiding Bettor Design to a 3/4-length victory over the onrushing Atochia in 1:51. Amorts A was a non-threatening third. Kent Sherman trains Bettor Design, a 4-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight-Windwatch, for Melissa Patterson. (The Meadows)
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