Customarily a closer, Full Of Sand made an early move to the lead and apparently liked the view as he cruised to victory in Tuesday’s $22,500 Preferred Pace at The Meadows
. His time of 1:50.4, a career best, is the fastest this year by a four-year-old gelding on a five-eighths-mile track.
Full Of Sand got away fourth but vaulted to the lead at the quarter pole for trainer/driver Ray Paver and brooked no serious challenges from there. He downed Valentowner by 1-1/4 lengths, with Shadows Dream a closing third. White Creek Stable owns Full Of Sand, a son of Full Of Fun-Soft Towel.
In the second leg of the John Sitzer Memorial Pace for three- and four-year-old colts and geldings, Dungeon Dragon and Livelikeurdying each notched his second straight series victory, setting up a compelling scenario for next week’s final.
Dungeon Dragon, a three-year-old Dragon Again-Caitlin O gelding who got every call in those two wins, scored in 1:53.3 for Dave Palone, trainer Ron Burke and owners Howard Taylor and Abe Basin. The pocket-sitting Wontbefooledagain was second, 2-1/4 lengths back, with Westwood Wizard a ground-saving third.
Livelikeurdying recorded an equally facile front-end triumph in 1:53.4 for trainer/driver Randy Tharps, with What A Smile 3-1/4 lengths behind in second and Suit Up third. Johnson Hill, Jr. owns the four-year-old Real Artist-Yourealligottonite gelding.
Brett Miller drove five winners on the 15-race card while Palone fashioned a four-bagger, including three victories for Burke.
Those four wins gave Palone a career total of 14.987 in his quest to become the second driver in North American harness racing history with 15,000 victories. Herve Filion, with 15,180, is the all-time leader.
(The Meadows)