Fashion Hatter got an easy early lead, then held off a pair of challengers late to capture Monday’s $30,600 championship of the Rembrandt Spur Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings at The Meadows

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Fashion Hatter got away second - and finished second - in each of his last four races. But in Monday’s final, he cut the first half in a reasonable :58.3. From there, he dug in to repel the late bids of the first-over Washingtonian on the outside and Walltocousins in the Lightning Lane. Fashion Hatter prevailed for Dave Palone in a career best 1:57. Washingtonian was second by a head, with Walltocousins finishing 1-1/4 lengths back in third.

“I think those pocket trips made a gentleman of him,” Palone said. “He relaxed in there last week, and he got home better. So today I was a little more confident about putting him on the lead.”

Palone said the absence of morning-line favourite Better Caviar, who was scratched sick, influenced his strategy.

“You hate to move into the favourite’s role when a top horse like Better Caviar is scratched,” Palone said. “But when he was scratched, I felt I had the best horse, and I just wanted to make sure I put him in a spot to win.”

Trainer Dean Collins purchased Fashion Hatter for owner Keith Pippi at auction last year for $14,000 when the son of Broadway Hall-Bowl Of Muscles had only one start on his card. In a matter of hours, Collins changed the youngster’s perspective.

“We gelded him before we even got him back from the sale,” Collins said. “A friend who had recommended him to me said he probably should be gelded, so we didn’t mess around. We took him right from the sale to a clinic. He trained down real well all winter. He’s a big, strong colt, and as time goes on, I think he’ll learn to go faster. He does everything right.”

He indicated Fashion Hatter would be pointed to Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, which kick off in May.

Palone drove six winners - four for trainer Ron Burke - and Mike Wilder four on the 15-race card while Eric Ledford fashioned a driving triple.

(The Meadows)