New Evidence stalked Stride Of Pride from the pocket before using the Lightning Lane to perfection to complete the 6-1 upset in Friday’s $18,000 Preferred Pace at The Meadows.
Stride Of Pride had plenty of pace left turning for home but couldn’t match the :27.3 final panel of New Evidence, who prevailed in 1:52.2 over a “good” surface for Aaron Merriman. Dapper Dude also shot the Lightning Lane for second, 1-3/4 lengths back, while Stride Of Pride saved show.
Herman Hagerman trains the six-year-old Western Terror-Bouncing Hanover gelding, who lifted his career earnings to $122,630, for Northwind Farm.
Dave Palone, Mike Wilder and trainer Ron Burke each enjoyed a triple on the 13-race card.
In other highlights of the racing week at The Meadows:
Wind Of The North Survives Late Scare In $20,000 Trot
Wind Of The North had things his way on the point but had to hold off a late charge from the pocket-sitting TSM Photo Bugger to capture Monday’s $20,000 Preferred Handicap Trot. As TSM Photo Bugger closed in, Merriman asked the millionaire for more. The nine-year-old Cantab Hall-Talk To The Wind gelding responded, downing the challenger by a neck in 1:56.1 over a “good” surface, with Explosive Leggs third.
Bill Bercury trains and owns Wind Of The North, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $1,063,508. Jim Pantaleano and Wilder each collected three wins on the 13-race card.
White Metro Pulls Off 16-1 Shocker In Top Distaff Pace
Dismissed at 16-1, White Metro followed the live cover of Bontz N, then roared past her in the lane to score in Tuesday’s $18,000 Filly & Mare Pace for Mike Wilder, trainer Randy Bendis and owner Tom Pollack.
The seven-year-old daughter of Metropolitan-Bye Bye Peachy Pie triumphed in 1:54.3 over a “good” surface, 1-1/2 lengths better than Bontz N, who was returning from a 4-1/2-month layoff and suffered her first U.S. defeat in four domestic starts. A trapped-in Camera Lady shook loose late to claim show.
White Metro has banked $347,716 in her career. Palone fashioned a triple on the 13-race program.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, first post 1:05 p.m.
(The Meadows)