No Satin Intended in Meadows Series Upset
No Satin Intended, who hadn’t raced since Oct. 6, converted a perfect pocket trip to a shocking 21-1 upset victory in a division of Tuesday’s Valentowner Pace at The Meadows. Also capturing $15,000 opening-leg splits in the series for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers were Fall Bliss, Border Fighting and Zipnthruthehall.
The event honors Valentowner, a fast-class standout bred and campaigned by Bob Key.
Although No Satin Intended had only a pair of qualifiers on his card this year, Tony Hall hustled him through the slop to a comfortable seat behind Sky Mesa. The gelded son of No Pan Intended-Polished Satin shot the Lightning Lane to down Sky Mesa by a head in 1:54.4, lowering his lifetime mark 1.2 seconds. Blueridge Camagot finished third. Ronald Neal trains No Satin Intended for Laura Baker.
Fall Bliss was an impressive winner, as he was used three times — once for early position, once with a quarter-pole move, once to overtake the leader around the far turn. The Blissfull Hall-Fall Festival ridgling prevailed in 1:55.4, 3-1/2 lengths better than Buckeye Blitz, with Martini Twist third.
Brett Miller drove for trainer Del S. Miller and owner Horseshoe Road Farm.
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Trot, I’m Justa Lady made a triumphant return to the track’s elite after toiling in conditioned races. She scored on the front end for Hall in 1:57. RT Sun Poco was second, 3/4 lengths back, while Tiffany rallied for show.
Mike Strejcek trains I’m Justa Lady, a 10-year-old daughter of Inquirer-Quite Becoming who now has won 71 races and $652,615 in her stellar career, for Janet Collins and Patricia Daumit.
Hall and Miller each drove four winners on the 15-race card while Eric Ledford fashioned a driving triple. (The Meadows)