With :53.4 back half, Lakeisha Hall scores at Meadows

WASHINGTON, PA, May 30, 2018 — Lakeisha Hall blistered the back half in 53.4, putting away a distinguished field en route to a front-end 1:50.4 victory in Wednesday's $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

After she seized the lead from post 6, Dave Palone gave Lakeisha Hall a 29.4 second-quarter breather. That enabled the 5-year-old daughter of Third Straight-Lantana Hall to thwart the first-over bid of Fox Valley Charm and down the pocket-sitting Shesasmokinlady by 1-1/2 lengths. Fox Valley Charm held gamely for show.

Ron Burke trains Lakeisha Hall, who extended her career bankroll to $520,379, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC and Jack Piatt II.

Brady Brown, Aaron Merriman and Palone each collected three wins on the 13-race program.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes with a special Thursday card, first post 1:05 PM.

PICK 5 GUARANTEED AT $10,000

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino has doubled — to $10,000 — the total-pool guarantee for its special Thursday, May 31 Pick 5 wager as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Initiative.

While $5,000 Pick 5 guarantees are offered each card, The Meadows sweetened the pot when Wednesday’s Pick 5 was uncovered, resulting in a carryover of $3,407.11.

In addition, Thursday’s card includes a $7,500 total-pool guarantee for the Pick 4, also a regular feature of each program at The Meadows.

Minimum wager for the Pick 4 (races 4-7) and Pick 5 (races 8-12) is 50 cents. Since Pennsylvania law requires a minimum per-race wager of $2, a player wagering at the 50-cent level must bet at least four tickets.

by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows