Ron Pierce mapped out a perfect trip for Celebrity Playboy in Thursday’s $96,000 final of the Horse & Groom Series at the Meadowlands, and the Peter Kleinhans pupil knew

exactly what to do with it.

With Impel Hanover laying down fractions of :28, :55.3 and 1:24, Celebrity Playboy was poised to pounce from his pocket perch. Once Pierce found clearance in the lane, the six-year-old son of Yankee Glide kicked home in :29.1 to prevail by a nose over Impel Hanover, with P J Clark a lapped-on third.

"I left hard and wound up in the two-hole and was just hoping something would open up late," said Ron Pierce. "I wasn't sure I had it at the wire. Lucky for me, this is a big, tall horse with a long neck."

Sent off at odds of 32-1, Celebrity Playboy improved his 2010 record to 2-2-2 in eight assignments with the win. The trotter has banked $80,310 this season for P Kleinhans Racing Inc of Flemington, NJ. The $48,000 payday lifted his overall cash stash to $254,310.

(With quotes from the Meadowlands)

To view Thursday’s results, click here.