Peter Berry

First-time starter Sway Me Over, after breaking in from post 1 and almost hitting the rail, rallied to win comfortably and return $252.20 in race 2 at Mountaineer tonight. The 4-year-old Protonico filly, owned by her breeder John O’Meara, was ridden by Bailey Weatherly for trainer Marion Cuttino. She ran the five furlongs on turf in :57.14. ⏹️ Weatherly made it back-to-back wins on first-time starters when Zenobia ($20.80) won the third race for the legendary owner-trainer Cally Ann Herrington.

Cinderbella is a vet scratch tonight.

Returns at Mountaineer on Monday.

Bernardini landed his fifth win on the card when Bailamos ($4.80) scored narrowly in the last under Luis Negron.

Trainer Jay Bernardini has won four races at Mountaineer tonight - Mr Business ($4.40), You Bet a Fortune ($6.80), Lou’s Redemption ($5.40) and Quistmer ($4.40). Brandon Tapara won the first two, Norberto Arroyo, Jr. the next two. Quistmer was claimed by Juan Pablo Silva.

That was my nickname in high school.

Juan Pablo Silva, Jr. landed his first career victory when Major Tom ($5.80) rallied from last in the first race at Mountaineer tonight. The 6-year-old is trained by Silva’s father, Juan Pablo Silva, for Tijuana Racing Stables. He was claimed out of the race by Jay Bernardini for Larry Reed.

I’d forgotten about this: the Maryborough Ansett Cup card, Nov. 4, 1985. The Dan Patch was won by 4-9 fav. Pacing Eros, trained & driven by Neville Gath, beating Ripa Heidi and Young Paleface Jim. The Cup was won by 4-1 fav. Ken Tuck (V.J. Knight) from Game Oro and Colt Seebers.

Further to Luis Negron’s 5-for-5 haul at Mountaineer last night, Maureen Andrews did win seven in a row at Mountaineer on Nov. 16 (one) and Nov. 17, 1997 (six). She added a seventh win on the Nov. 17 card but the streak was broken before that, so she didn’t go 7-for-7 on the same card. She actually went 7-for-10 on that Nov. 17 card. So it seems Luis Negron’s 5-for-5 on a single card stands as unique (for Mountaineer). But Maureen’s seven consecutive wins (over two cards) is certainly a Mountaineer record. Her wins came on horses trained by John Baird and Thistledown-based Joe Mazur.

Luis Negron had five mounts at Mountaineer tonight and won on all of them, perhaps a local record. His winners were Ghostly Girl ($4.40), Diamond Dancer ($4.60), Classic Alphie ($3.80), Flat Out Diamonds ($2.80) and Gone Boy ($4.40).

Memory Lane

Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Eric Reed notched career win #1,700 when Bien Fresa ($7.60) scored in race 7 at Mountaineer tonight.