Merriman wins five including feature pace

WASHINGTON, PA, May 24, 2024 — Dragon City (Heston Blue Chip-Dragon Town) let 1-1 favorite Ants Marching do the heavy lifting on top, then powered past him in the lane to capture Friday’s harness racing feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, a $13,500 Conditioned Pace.

Ants Marching threw down a 1:22 three-quarters, much to the delight of Dragon City and Aaron Merriman, who were stalking from the pocket.

When Merriman cut Dragon City loose out of the final turn, he cruised past easily and triumphed in 1:50.2. Long shot Roll With Time was second, 3-1/2 lengths back, while Bronx Seelster rallied for show.

Randy Bendis conditions Dragon City, a 5-year-old gelding who now boasts a career bankroll of $163,409 and owns with Pollack Racing LLC. It was one of five wins for Merriman on the 13-race card.

DRAGON CITY REPLAY

Jerry Kehm and Rattling Pine (Dejarmbro-Pinery) powered from the pocket at the top of the lane and scored convincingly in Friday’s $10,000 Great Lakes Amateur Drives Association (GLADA) Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Braden Rhoades (Golden Compass) grabbed the early lead and would not release Tom “Mayhem” Svrcek (Lady’s Dude), taking that rival out of the race. But the 1:25.3 three-quarters left Rhoades vulnerable, and he could offer no resistance when Kehm attacked and scored by 3/4 lengths in 1:55.2.

Larry Ferrari (Floyd Of Rosedale) finished second while Dirk Simpson (Mind Yown Business) and Rhoades completed the ticket.

Crist Hershberger trains Rattling Pine, an 8-year-old gelding who boosted his career bankroll to $215,178, for George Bonomo and Rose Bonomo.

RATTLING PINE REPLAY

Because the Greater Pittsburgh Food Truck Festival will be using part of the track on Saturday, there will be no live racing at The Meadows. Live racing resumes Wednesday, first post 12:45 PM.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association