Escape The News took advantage of a sizzling three-quarters and pounced late to score in 1:49.1, matching the track record, in Saturday’s $20,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
Unlocked was on a mission on the lead, clicking off three-quarters in 1:21.1 and frustrating most would-be challengers. Not Escape The News, who moved first over from third for Aaron Merriman and nailed Unlocked by a nose. Hall Bro was third. The time equalled Atta Boy Dan’s track record for older geldings. Brewer Adams trains the seven-year-old son of Artiscape-Ideal News, who now boasts $712,948 in career earnings, for Kevin Sywyk.
Saturday’s card also featured two second leg divisions of the Walter Russell Memorial Pace for three and four-year-old colts, horses and geldings, with Connecting Flight and Dr Drake Ramoray each taking a $12,000 split.
It was the second straight series win for Connecting Flight, and if anything, it was easier than his opening leg romp. The four-year-old Panspacificflight-Shares Rebound gelding zipped to the front for Dave Palone and steadily widened, scoring in a career-best 1:51.1. Stone Fire Hanover rallied for second, six and three-quarter lengths back, while Keystone Dylan held show. Kevin Johnson conditions Connecting Flight for Erv Miller.
Merriman piloted four winners on the 15-race program while Tony Hall and Palone each fashioned a triple.
(With files from The Meadows)