Ladys Dude took the field through a swift three-quarters, but had enough left to thwart challengers inside and outside as he captured Wednesday’s $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows in 1:53.2, matching his career-best.

Ladys Dude zipped to the lead from post seven and rolled through snappy fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.2, but then had to deal with Classicality on the outside and Tall Cotton shooting the Lightning Lane. Under Dave Palone’s urging, the four-year-old Victory Sam-Ladys Star gelding found another gear and held off Classicality by half a length, with Tall Cotton third.

Ron Burke trains Ladys Dude, who won for the fifth time in his last seven starts and extended his career bankroll to $264,962, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Johnny Yoder.

Jim Pantaleano and Mike Wilder each piloted three winners on the 15-race card.

(The Meadows)