Der Meister goes wire to wire in Pennsylvania Nursery

Der Meister stretched his front-running style to seven furlongs on Saturday at Parx Racing, taking the $91,800 Pennsylvania Nursery by 2 3/4 lengths.

After winning his maiden race by leading all the way at five furlongs, Der Meister got cooked in a speed duel in his last out, tiring to fourth place at the end of a six-furlong race.

Saturday, Der Meister broke alertly under jockey Jose Flores and took his accustomed position at the head of the field. He led through a quarter-mile in 23.69 seconds, a half in 47.11. After six furlongs in 1:11.88, Flores kept Der Meister under steady urging to maintain a safe lead to the finish line, stopping the clock in 1:25.04 on a fast track. Der Meister paid $10.80.

Running Tap moved up between horses leaving the turn and rallied strongly to be second, a nose in front of third-place Lucky Lewis. The favorite, Mr. Valentine, finished sixth in the field of 10 2-year-olds.

Der Meister, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Out of Place trained by Murray Rojas, banked $91,800 for his owners, R J G Racing Management.