In a much-anticipated matchup of two red-hot horses with gaudy resumes, Mad Max Hanover out-gamed For Once Inmy Life nearing the wire in the Saturday, March 1 feature at The Meadowlands, a $36,232 high-end conditioned pace, in 1:50.2 on a chilly night.
Heading into the race, Mad Max Hanover had crushed his opponents in two straight outings, winning on Feb. 15 in 1:51.4 before following that up with a spectacular 1:48.2 score a week ago, the fastest mile in the sport thus far in 2025.
For Once Inmy Life was also on a roll, having won five of his last six, including his last three, which included a pair of Big M victories. His only knock was not having raced in a pari-mutuel event since Feb. 10.
In this battle of heavyweights, something had to give, and the fight wasn’t decided until the 15th round.
Saulsbrook Victor, the 5-1 third choice in the betting, was away from the gate quickly in the eight-horse field and had the lead out of the first turn before For Once Inmy Life took over while parked at the quarter in :27.4.
After following For Once Inmy Life, Mad Max Hanover, the 1-2 public choice, marched up to take the lead just after the three-eighths before hitting the half in :55.
Things heated up just before three-quarters, when Jordan Stratton pulled For Once Inmy Life, the 7-2 second choice, out of the pocket to go after the leader, who still led at that station in 1:22.1.
The stretch drive may not have been in Manila, but it was every bit an East Rutherford thriller. For Once Inmy Life grabbed a narrow advantage mid-stretch after displaying a flurry of speed, but from there, Mad Max Hanover dug in and delivered the knockout blow, re-claiming the lead before going on to three-quarter-length win. Saulsbrook Victor was third.
“Ideally, I wanted to be the last one to the front,” said winning driver Brett Beckwith. “And it worked out that way. That last quarter was strong and Jordan [Stratton with For Once Inmy Life] had a half-length [lead] on me. My horse is a good horse. He doesn’t get tired. Just don’t give up on him and wait as long as you can to ask him. It was a great stretch battle.”
Owned by Marvin Rounick and trained by Jake Leamon, Mad Max Hanover, a six-year-old gelded son of Always B Miki-Mayhem Seelster, lifted his lifetime stats to 17 wins from 72 starts, good for earnings of more than $865,000. He paid $3 to win.
Jason Bartlett and Beckwith led the driver colony with four winners apiece, and now sit 1-2 in The Big M standings with 32 and 29 victories, respectively. Beckwith now has 12 wins over the last four programs. Jeff Cullipher topped the trainers with three walks down victory lane.
All-source handle on the 14-race card totalled $3,137,584 USD.
Racing resumes on Friday, March 7 at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)