Trapped with no hope of clearance, Lass A Rope found the Lightning Lane just in time and brushed to her second-straight victory in the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows on Friday, Jan. 4.
Glidinthruparadise moved first over and edged past leader Dirty Secret as the field straightened for home. But when Aaron Merriman pointed Lass A Rope inside, the four-year-old daughter of Encore Encore-American Lassie had just enough time and trot to nip Glidinthruparadise by a nose in 1:55.2. Bessie completed the ticket.
Rich Gillock trains Lass A Rope, who now boasts $172,614 in career earnings, for owner-breeder Bob Key.
Jim Pantaleano collected three wins on the 13-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, Jan. 7 when the program features a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick 4 (Races 4-7) and a $1,453.57 carryover in the Pick 5 (Races 8-12). First post 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)