Taking advantage of his native speed and a 'sloppy' track, Red Falkor forged to the front and dared his rivals to catch up — they couldn’t — as he captured Monday’s $30,500 championship of the Ken Weaver Memorial Trot at The Meadows.

In the last two preliminary legs of the series, Red Falkor worked out pocket trips but couldn't erase the deficit late. In the final, with the track soupy thanks to snow dumped by winter storm Virgil, Dave Palone adopted a different approach.

“He felt good leaving the gate,” Palone said. “He loves the lead, and today’s one of those days where, if you can stretch one out and they don’t get right to you, you might win. I could hear Brett Miller chasing his horse (September Hall) going into the last turn, and I thought if he didn’t get right to me, my horse would halfway take off once he got out of the turn. My game plan was to go down swinging.”

The strategy worked beautifully, as Howard Taylor’s four-year-old Allstar Hall-Melt My Heart gelding opened a five-length lead before struggling home in :32. But it was enough to down September Hall by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:59.1, with Jailhouse Camryn third.

“I was a little worried because I know September Hall is a good horse,” said winning trainer Becky Zubkoff of Red Falkor, a $3,600 yearling purchase. ”But I knew Dave thought he had a little horse when he wouldn't let September Hall go.”

She said the Meadowlands may be in Red Falkor’s future but that immediate plans are uncertain.

Brian Zendt drove four winners and Palone three on the 15-race card.

Tuesday’s program at The Meadows features the $30,500 championship of the Walter Russell Memorial Pace. First post is 12:55 p.m.

(The Meadows)