Timelesswinner Two rallies up inside to win Currier & Ives

One week after coasting to a stakes-record victory in her Currier & Ives elimination, Timelesswinner Two showed grit and determination as she rallied up the “Lightning Lane” at The Meadows to win the $100,929 final Monday in 1:56.4.

Although Timelesswinner Two sailed to an unchallenged 13-length victory in her elimination, she encountered much more movement in Monday’s final after making the front before the quarter pole. She relinquished the lead and sat tight behind SJ’s Minolta and David Wade, winners of the other elimination, hoping they would carry her to the Lightning Lane.

“From past experience, I know David’s horse struggles a bit in the turns,” said winning driver Dave Palone. “Once she gets through the turn, she’ll take off again. I was actually pretty content where I was. I thought if I did battle with her when she came at the quarter pole, it would be suicide. So I was content to follow.”

After being shuffled to fourth nearing the final turn, the 3-year-old daughter of Broadway Hall-Meadowbranch Lily found inside racing room and scored in 1:56.4, a half-length better than Caviar Forthe Lady, who also was bottled up after leaving but closed outside with a rush. The game SJ’s Minolta saved show.

Julie Miller trains Timelesswinner Two for Rodney Mitchell Inc. and Freida Ivory. Although the filly’s time was two full seconds off last week’s stake record, Monday night’s performance may have been more impressive as it came in the wake of a worrisome foot injury.

“Julie did a real good job just having her ready for this race,” Palone said. “She had a little abscess on her foot. She might not have been as sharp as she was last week, but she had an excuse and still got the job done.”

Marty Wollam, who trains Caviar Forthe Lady, said he thought he might have had the winner when his filly and Charlie Norris surged through the lane.

“I got a little excited there,” Wollam said. “She raced great. I didn’t really have a game plan; I leave that up to the driver. But in that race, if you follow either of the Daves, Palone or Wade, that’s where you want to be.”

In the $27,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, Jans Luck returned from a week’s vacation to reassert her dominance, capturing the track’s top distaff pace for her fourth consecutive win. She scored for Palone in 1:52.1, a length better than Natalie, with Osborne’s Gypsy third.

Ron Burke trains Jans Luck, a 5-year-old daughter of Camluck-Jans Scooter, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable.

Eliminations for the open division of the Currier & Ives will go on Monday, June 22, with the final set for the following Monday. (with files from The Meadows)

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