Meadows: Shake It Cerry to make her 2015 debut

The reigning Trotter of the Year, Shake It Cerry, will make her 2015 debut on Friday evening at The Meadows in the $51,100 Meadows Maturity. The Jimmy Takter-trained mare will tackle a field of eight competitors including Classic Martine.

Shake It Cerry made her first trip to the track this year on April 18 in a qualifying race at the Meadowlands where she cruised to an easy victory in 1:55 with trainer Jimmy Takter in the bike. The winner of $2,058,180 and 23 of 28 career races is expected to be driven by Dave Palone, marking her first pari-mutuel race without regular driver Ron Pierce.

Pierce, who is on the shelf with neck and back injuries, said he expects to get back behind the 4-year-old when he returns to health.

For the record, Palone was also entered as the driver on (2) Cowgirl Hall and (9) Classic Martine. Shake It Cerry will start from post 6.

The Meadows Maturity actually lured 11 horses but the top 9 money-winners head to the post on Friday. The track will also host the older male trotters on May 2.

“I was very pleased with the quality of mares,” said Racing Secretary Tom Leasure, who added that the boys division should offer a purse in the $60,000 range.

Other notables signed on to the Maturity include Handover Belle and Daylon Miracle.

Post time for The Meadows card on Friday is 6:55 p.m. with the Maturity slated as race 9.

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