Staying Smooth, his gait smoothed by hopples, cruised to an effortless victory in Monday’s opening leg of the Triple Diamond, an early-closing series for three and four-year-old colt and gelding trotters at The Meadows.
Boiler Spur Blur captured the other $15,000 opening-leg division.
Staying Smooth had displayed flashes of ability but also breaking problems before trainer Steve Bush rigged him with hopples prior to his last start when he finished a strong second. In the Triple Diamond, Staying Smooth powered to the front for Tony Hall and widened his lead en route to scoring in 1:58.3 on a sloppy surface. King Chip K rallied for place, with Fun N Pleasure a distant third.
Mark Zallenick, Russell Zallenick and Bush own Staying Smooth, a four-year-old son of Conway Hall-Armbro Sassafras.
Boiler Spur Blur made up five lengths late for Dave Palone to triumph in 1:59.2, a neck better than Chip Chip Mac. Tutto Pagato was third. Kent Sherman trains the four-year-old Kentucky Spur-Albas Reward gelding for Keith Pippi.
In the $25,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, 8-1 shot Cadies Gotta Gun went from worst to first with a powerful wide rally that carried her to a half-length victory in 1:54.4 for Brett Miller. Northern Lei Ann closed well for second while 4-5 favourite Mcgibson saved show.
Spencer Kahrig trains Cadies Gotta Gun, a five-year-old Gunthatwonthewest-Timeless Cadie mare who has won three of her last four starts, for Richard Copp. Miller drove four winners and Palone three on the 13-race card.
(The Meadows)