The Meadowlands hosted a set of $32,500 Invitational events on Friday evening, with weekly bragging rights going to Likeabatoutahell in the trotting affair and Native Bride in the tilt for pacing mares
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For the second consecutive week the top trot belonged to Likeabatoutahell, who covered the oval in 1:55 for the tandem of driver Brian Sears and trainer Trond Smedshammer. Sears got away third past the quarter pole with the seven-year-old SJs Caviar gelding before putting him on the lead and supplying middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27. He powered home in a 28-second clip en route to winning as the odds-on choice over Heza Challenger, who was three-quarters of a length away, and Encore Encore.
It was the 23rd lifetime tally for Likeabatoutahell, who has banked close to $550,000 to date for owner/breeder Michael Andrew of Gorham, Maine.
After finishing second to Cuz She Can in last week’s Mares Invitational, Native Bride tripped out on that foe’s cover and got up in the final strides to win this week’s edition of the class in 1:51.4 for driver Brian Sears. The five-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native used a :25.4 closing panel to get past Cuz She Can, who held on for the runner-up award. Chancey Lady sprung loose late to grab third.
Lou Pena conditions the 24-time winner for Jay Sears of Osteen, Florida and T H Stable LLC of Wall, New Jersey. She has banked $56,000 this season and more than $677,000 to date.
To view Friday’s results, click here.