Winless since late July, Certified Ideal regained her top form Tuesday at The Meadows when she moved first over to capture the $18,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace.
Although Certified Ideal rolled up nine victories early in the year, five consecutive winless starts earned her a break of more than nine weeks. In Monday’s contest, her second off the layoff, she moved from third for Tony Hall and needed the rest of the race to wear down the leader, Rescue Team, and defeat her by a head. Do Me Honor finished third. The winning time was 1:53.3 over a sloppy surface.
Randy Bendis trains Certified Ideal, a four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Arebas Last who extended her career bankroll to $269,467, and owns with Mike Novosel, Jr., Tom Pollack and James Walton.
Hall piloted five winners and Eric Ledford three on the 15-race card.
(The Meadows)