Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Driven by Dave Palone
Trained by Ronnie Burke
Bred by Ronald Mersky
Owned by Howard A Taylor of Penn Valley, PA Robert M Feldman of Gladwyne, PA, Edwin J Gold of Phoenixville, PA, and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, NY

Fred And Ginger established a new stakes record Saturday, May 22 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in winning the 2010 edition of the $300,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial Pace for 3-year-old open colts and geldings pacers.

Driven by Dave Palone for trainer Ron Burke, Fred And Ginger stopped the timer in 1:49.4 in winning by a neck over a hard-closing Pang Shui (Jim Morrill Jr.)

“I felt confident and pretty comfortable after the second quarter breather,” said Palone in the winner’s circle following the race. “I really did. My horse is not the best in the turns but certainly was the best in the race.”

Fred And Ginger has won three of five starts this season with one second-place finish and one third-place finish.

“This is a great horse,” said Taylor in the winner’s circle. His sister was a great horse and Dave did a great job for us tonight.”

Palone seized the lead right from the get go, taking the nine-horse field to the opening panel in :26.3, half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:22. Following Fred And Ginger were Sharks Legacy (Joe Pavia Jr.), sitting in the pocket throughout the mile with Pang Shui (Jim Morrill Jr.) in the third spot. Morrill Jr. and Pang Shui put on a late charge up the passing lane (Pocono Pike) to lose by a neck with Sharks Legacy three and three-quarters of a length back of the Hempt winner.

The 1:49.4 bested the old stakes record of Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears) of 1:50 established in May of 2008. This also was a new life mark for Fred And Ginger.

Fred And Ginger's Career Statistics as of June 2, 2010
Year Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds      Earnings            Record
2010      5        3       1        1           $ 234,750           3, 1:49.4F PcD 05/22/2010
2009      9        2        1      0           $ 72,422             2, 1:52.4F Mea 08/19/2009
Total    14       5        2        1           $ 307,172           3, 1:49.4F