Ellasen returns immediate dividends

WASHINGTON, PA, Dec. 18, 2018 — Claimed from last week's opening leg, Ellasen returned immediate dividends to her new connections with a front-end harness racing victory in Tuesday's Holiday Claiming Series for $20,000 claiming filly and mare pacers at The Meadows. Caviart Scarlett captured the other $16,000 split.

Ellasen had been racing off the pace, but Dave Palone and new trainer Ron Burke changed tactics with her, sending her to the top from post 6. She responded with a facile 3/4-length win over Race With Grace in 1:54, while Always A Z Tam shot the Lightning Lane for show. Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC now own the 4-year-old daughter of Big Bad John-So Very Nice, whose career bankroll stands at $141,248.

After weakening late while fronting her opening-leg split, Caviart Scarlett also altered her approach, getting away fourth and moving powerfully first over for Aaron Merriman. She drew off late to score in 1:53.1, 3-1/4 lengths better than the rallying Mimosa Party, with Hurricane Calleigh third. Randy Bendis trains the 6-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Caviart Sydney who extended her lifetime earnings to $273,039, and owns with Tom Pollock.

Tuesday's card also featured three divisions of a Holiday Claiming Series for $10,000 claiming filly and mare pacers. Deprived took her second straight series split, with Bad Medicine and Bianca Midnight also winning.

All six current Holiday Claiming Series conclude on a special New Year's Eve card that also features the career finale of Foiled Again, the richest Standardbred all time with earnings exceeding $7.6 million. First post Dec. 31 is 5:30 PM.

Elsewhere on the card, Camera Lady found late racing room and blew past Fox Valley Charm in a career-best 1:52.3 for Palone, Burke, Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi. Easy Three completed the ticket. The 4-year-old daughter of Dragon Again-Ann Van Go now boasts a career bankroll of $266,798.

Palone collected four wins and Burke three on the 11-race card.

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino