Milton P. Higgins' Merengue sped away from three opponents and easily won the 12th running of the $50,000 Snow Goose Handicap for older fillies and mares yesterday at Laurel Park.

A winner of four straight stakes at Laurel, Merengue completed the nine-furlong race in 1 minute, 52 seconds over a muddy race strip under jockey Rick Wilson. Wilson captured all three stakes races carded this weekend at Laurel, winning the Goss L. Stryker with Goodtobeking and the Sagamore Stakes with Fred Bear Claw on Saturday before guiding this winner for trainer Donald Barr.

Hot Salsa rallied to take second, followed by Tuzia and Aboard. The winner paid $3.80 and headed a 4-6 exacta of $13.20. Merengue's win margin was 7 1/4 lengths over Hot Salsa.

Smashing Review, Diggins and Maragold Princess were race-day scratches.

"The way the field scratched down, she just did it easily, despite the two-month layoff," said Wilson. "She loves the mud. She was just digging the whole way."

Pub Date: 3/22/99