Hugadragon vaulted right to the lead for Dave Palone and easily captured his third straight victory in Saturday’s $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Although he smoked the first quarter in a demanding :26.4, Hugadragon had little trouble downing the pocket-sitting Object Of Art by one and a half lengths in 1:52.3, with Western Churchill third.

Trainer Ron Burke's Burke Racing Stable owns the five-year-old Dragon Again-Hip Huggers gelding, who soared past $900,000 in career earnings.

Palone and Aaron Merriman left little on the plate for other drivers, as Palone rolled up five wins and Merriman four on the 12-race card.

(With files from The Meadows)