He didn't have the best journey, but obviously Floyd Rhodes had the best horse. Despite Back Door Man being hung-out the entire mile, the veteran trotter rallied in the final strides to overtake the pacesetter and go to a neck victory in the $9,200 GLADA Trot Saturday (Oct. 2) at Northfield Park.

Starting from Post 8, Rhodes sent Back Door Man toward the front, which was precisely what Vernon Beachy had in mind. Once Beachy's trotter, Shake It Off Lindy, cleared to the lead that left Back Door Man on the rim. But Rhodes didn't panic. He didn't press for the lead and was content to sit on the outside as Shake It Off Lindy showed the way past the quarter in :29 and by the half in :59.2. But as the leaders approached the three-quarters Back Door Man moved up alongside Beachy's trotter as the three-quarter timer flashed 1:28.1.

When the field rounded the final turn and headed for paydirt, Shake It Off Lindy and Back Door Man were head to head, nostrils to nostrils and were quickly joined by Go Go George. All three trotters were necks apart as they approached the finish line. But amazingly so, with a late surge, Back Door Man got the last call and the victory. Shake It Off Lindy was a neck back in second while a neck further back in third place was Go Go George in the 1:58.1 clocked mile.

Back Door Man, a five-year-old Bluto gelding, is owned and trained by his driver. He paid $11.00 for win.

(GLADA)