GLADA divisions at The Meadows

WASHINGTON, PA, Aug. 27, 2021 — Dante “The Inferno” Scattolini and Stephen “You’re Never Too” Oldford, each captured a $9,300 Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) split Friday at The Meadows.

Scattolini was third at the three-quarters with Wilberforce when he brought the heat to Bill “The Flying Antique” Daughtery, Jr. and Wimborne Hanover on the lead. Daugherty felt The Inferno’s hot brush and relented, as Scattolini blazed past to win by a length in 1:56.2.

The result was somewhat surprising, as Wilberforce recently had shown a strong preference for the front end.

“I could see the horse in the two hole was getting a little tired, and I thought we could get to the horse on the lead,” Scattolini said.

He noted that the victory ended an uncommonly long cold spell for someone nicknamed “The Inferno.”

“It’s my first win in about 20 years because I haven’t driven that much. It’s just now that I’m starting to do it again.”

Kelly “Sky” Walker (Absolut Uncertenty) and Jamie “Squirrel” Coffy completed the ticket. Wilberforce, a 9-year-old Caviar Crown-Rose Run Imprint gelding, lifted his lifetime bankroll to $362,225 for trainer Kris Rickert and owner Dale Wareham.

WILBERFORCE REPLAY

Stonebridge Gamble hadn’t seen the front for some time, but Oldford quarter-poled to the top for a good reason.

“My arms were getting tired — that’s the truth.” Oldford said. “He had a monster grip, and getting out and getting moving was the safest thing to do. Once we got to the top, he just swelled up.”

The ol’ arm-fatigue ploy worked, as the 8-year-old Cantab Hall-Ok To Play gelding held off the late charge of the pocket-sitting Alesha “Hoosier Hotshot” Binkley (In Secret) by 2 lengths to prevail in 1:55.4. Pete Stratton (Roundtown Rocker) and Walker (Bigboy Rosco) were third and fourth, respectively.

Stonebridge Gamble now has banked $159,375 for trainer Ethan Sisco and owner Oldford Racing LLC.

STONEBRIDGE GAMBLE REPLAY

For full race results, click here.

by Evan Pattak, for the MSOA