Despite being deprived of his cover midway up the backside, Rising MVP persevered and went on to spring a 13-1 upset in Friday’s (June 4) $16,000 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Rising MVP and Aaron Merriman intended to follow the cover of the first-over In Secret, but when that rival quickly cleared to the front, it left Rising MVP in the air. But the six-year-old My MVP-Nutmegs Winner gelding was up to the task, powering forward to score in a career best 1:53.1. Thunder shot the Lightning Lane for second, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, while In Secret saved show.

Bill Daugherty Jr. trains Rising MVP, who now boasts a career bankroll of $333,017, for Susan Daugherty.

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

Saturday’s (June 5) Belmont Day card at The Meadows features a pair of stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies: a $149,532 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and a $100,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series event. On the wagering front, the program offers two carryovers: $3,156.20 in the final-race Super Hi-5 and $1,365.26 in the Pick-5 (race 8). First post time is 11:25 a.m.

(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)