He had only had two lifetime drives — neither a win — but John “The Greek” Sikaras changed that arithmetic dramatically Friday (Nov. 27), when he and Explosive Leggs roared wide through the lane to pull off a 23-1 upset in an $8,500 Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) leg at The Meadows.
A longtime Standardbred owner but a neophyte driver, Sikaras trailed by four lengths into the stretch before he and Explosive Leggs found their best stride. They prevailed in 1:59 over a good surface, a half length better than Jerry Kehm (Vegas Ticket). Alesha “The Hoosier Hotshot” Binkley (Delcrest Holiday) overcame a parked-out opening panel to finish third.
Carl Cocciolone trains Explosive Leggs, an eight-year-old Explosive Matter-American Leggs gelding who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $280,441, and owns with Mark Sosovicka.
GLADA action continues through the winter at Northfield.
In Friday’s $17,900 Open Handicap Pace, the first-over Wild Wild Western threw down a :55.2 back half to earn a narrow victory in 1:51.2 for Tony Hall, trainer Norm Parker, and owners Jacobs Creek Racing, Andrew Altobelli and John Deters. It was the second straight victory for the four-year-old Western Ideal-Caila Fra gelding, who now boasts lifetime earnings of $255,580.
Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday (Nov. 30), when the 13-race card features a pair of carryovers: $867.58 in the final-race Super Hi-5 and $520.49 in the Pick-5 (races 8-12). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)