Hammered down to 2-5, Ladys Dude performed like the heavy favourite, cruising through the slop to his third straight victory in Thursday’s $17,600 Open Handicap Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Lady’s Dude grabbed the early lead in a contested :27.3, and when Dave Palone gave him a :29.4 second-quarter breather, that was all the 11-year-old Victory Sam-Ladys Star gelding needed to hold off the pocket-sitting Rising MVP by three-quarters of a length in 1:55. Longshot The Funk earned show.

Ron Burke trains 55-time winner Ladys Dude, who is closing in on $900,000 in career earnings, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Johnny Yoder.

Palone piloted four winners on the 11-race card, including a pair for trainer Scott Betts. Over the past two programs, Palone and Betts have teamed for five victories.

Live racing at The Meadows continues on Friday when the 11-race program features a pair of carryovers: $2,076.41 in the Jackpot Pick 5 (race four), $1,510.93 in the final-race Super Hi-5. First post is 12:45 p.m.

(With files from MSOA)