Fashion Rocker fastest in series opener

WASHINGTON, PA, March 6, 2015 — Fashion Rocker swooped the field down the backside and scored a comfortable harness racing victory in a division of Friday's Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at The Meadows. Somewhere Fameous took the other $15,000 opening-leg split of the series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares. The series honors the memory of the late Donna Dunn, longtime Standardbred owner and wife of veteran The Meadows-based trainer and USTA Director Walter "Boots" Dunn.

Fashion Rocker, who prepped for the series in overnights at the Meadowlands, was sitting third when Dave Palone sent him on his journey. The 1-5 favorite easily gobbled up the leaders and triumphed in 1:59 on a sloppy surface. The pocket-sitting Skyway Hurricane held second, 2-1/2 lengths back, with Southwind Asia third.

Ron Burke trains Fashion Rocker, a sophomore daughter of Rocknroll Hanover – Show Off, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC and Bethann Palone.

In the $15,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred Pace, Elm Grove Inarush, who raced extensively in Canada last year at 3, blitzed the field with a three-wide backside burst and scored in 1:55.2 for Jim Pantaleano, trainer J.L. Adams and owners Martin Valentic and John Bednarski, Jr. Bazooka Terror was 2-3/4 lengths back in second while a trapped-in Do Me Honor settled for show. A daughter of Coasttocoast Yankee-Seawind Alpha, Elm Grove Inarush extended her career bankroll to $120,343.

Tony Hall, Mike Wilder, trainer Randy Bendis and Palone each enjoyed a double on the 12-race card.

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino