Following his cover beautifully, Schoolkids brushed through the lane Tuesday at the Meadows to capture the $22,500 Preferred Pace in a swift 1:49.4.

When JJ Gladiator popped off the pylons to chase the leader, Handsome Prince, Schoolkids followed. The pair dueled through the lane, with Schoolkids shoving his nose in front at the wire for Brett Miller. Jojo N Goliath rallied for show. The time was a tick off the track record for older horses — the oldest record on The Meadows books — established by Riyadh in 1996.

Mike Palone trains Schoolkids, a six-year-old son of I Am A Fool-Game Bunny who now boasts $842,762 in lifetime earnings, for New Jennaration LLC.

Miller drove five winners on the 16-race card. Dave Palone drove three winners, lifting his career victory total to 15,138 as he pursues Herve Filion’s North American record of 15,180.

(The Meadows)