Transcending powered to the lead, backed down the second quarter and sprinted the back half in :55 to capture his third straight victory in Monday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows

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Dave Palone guided Transcending to the lead from post 6, then gave him a second-panel breather in :29.4. The six-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear-Apopka Denise was unchallenged thereafter, scoring in 1:52.1 over the sloppy going. Pedro Island, shedding blinkers and earplugs, was an improved second, 1-3/4 lengths behind, while the ground-saving Upfront Hoosierboy was third.

Ron Burke trains Transcending, who now boasts career earnings of $360,608, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and Larry Karr.

Eric Ledford drove six winners - three for trainer Paul Kennedy - and Palone four on the 15-race card. As Palone closes in on 14,000 career victories, Monday’s haul left him with 13,986.

(The Meadows)