Dismissed at 8-1, Arthur Pendragon dug in late in the slop to prevail in Saturday’s opening leg of the Atta Boy Dan Pace at The Meadows. Keystone Dylan captured the other $17,500 split, giving Mike Wilder an opening-leg sweep in the event for three-year-old colts and geldings.

The series honours Atta Boy Dan, a fast-class pacer for the Ron Burke stable who shares the track record of 1:49.1 for older geldings.

Arthur Pendragon zipped to the lead from post eight and took the field through a leisurely 1:28.1 three-quarters. But the 4-5 favourite, More Dragon, charged at the leader in the lane, forcing the Dragon Again-Western Realist gelding to find more. He did just that, downing More Dragon by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.3, with the pocket-sitting Cheapskate Hanover third. Dan Altmeyer trains the homebred Arthur Pendragon and owns with Richard Kelson.

In the $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life Pace, 10-year-old Sam Hill rolled to a front-end 1:53 victory — the 40th of his career but first this year — for Wilder, trainer John Sullivan and owner Don Tiger. The pocket-sitting Visible Gold was second, a length back, with Full Code third. The Artsplace-Apple Of My Eye gelding extended his career bankroll to $437,067.

Wilder piloted five winners and Dave Palone four on the 15-race card.

(The Meadows)