A $23,000 claimer two starts back, Reggiano barrelled past the leader down the backside and opened an insurmountable lead en route to victory in 1:49.1 — matching the track record for older gelding pacers —in Saturday’s $18,000 Preferred Handicap at The Meadows.

Reggiano was sitting fourth and appeared to be in a spot of trouble thanks to the erratic uncovered move of Major Nemesis, who could have pinned him in. But once Tony Hall was able to maneuver Reggiano off the cones, the six-year-old son Stonebridge Terror-Western Prima gobbled up Stride Of Pride and defeated Dapper Dude by 5-1/2 lengths while Born Of Fire rallied for show. The time equaled the record held jointly by Atta Boy Dan and Escape The News.

David McNeight, Jr. trains Reggiano, who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $309,724, for Kenneth Owczarczak and Courtney McNeight.

In Saturday’s co-feature, the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot, Barn Girl made it three straight, and 51 wins in 100 career starts, for Aaron Merriman, trainer Bill Bercury and owner Renee Bercury. She scored in 1:53.4, a nose better than Ready Any Time, with Expose Yourself third.

The six-year-old daughter of Cash Hall-Turquoise Sweetie not boasts $692,668 in career earnings.

Foiled Again failed, for the ninth time, to secure career win 100, but the gallant 14-year-old raced well from post 9 to finish second in a Conditioned Pace. With his cheque, the richest Standardbred ever has banked $7.577,638.

Volley Ball Beach spotted the field 14-1/2 lengths following an early break, then looped them with ease to triumph in 1:57.1, fastest mile this year by a two-year-old pacing colt on a five-eighths-mile track. Hall piloted the homebred son of Somebeachsomewhere-Alladorable for trainer Norm Parker and owner Bob Key.

Dave Palone and Hall each collected three wins on the 13-race card.

(The Meadows)