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Global Winner K, an 18-race maiden entering Monday’s final of the Triple Diamond, picked an opportune time to get his act together, as he captured the $28,200 event
for three and four-year-old colt and gelding trotters at The Meadows.
Global Winner K had come close to graduating before, losing a win to disqualification last year and breaking stride on a clear lead in last week’s Triple Diamond leg. Those near misses encouraged Norm Parker, who trains the four-year-old Bob Key homebred.
“I’ve known for a long time the horse has a lot of ability,” Parker said, “but he’s a very slow learner. He finally put it together at the right time.”
Despite the horse’s lengthy winless streak, Parker and Key resisted the temptation to geld the son of American Winner-Pacific Kathryn.
“Mr. Key regards castration as a last, last, last resort,” Parker said. “He says that many times when people have done it, it hasn’t made a difference. So we just keep working and hope that we hit the right combination. It looks like it happened at the right time. Now, he has to learn to be a complete racehorse. That will be our next challenge.”
In the series final, Aaron Merriman sent Global Winner K to the front. He endured a parked-out first quarter over a sloppy surface and a determined uncovered bid by Staying Smooth, downing that rival in 1:57. King Chip K was a rallying third. Global Winner K was part of a three-horse Key entry sent off the 8-5 second choice.
Good And Firm took the $15,000 Triple Diamond consolation, scoring in 1:59.1 for driver Eric Ledford, trainer Steve Owens and owner Kimberly Owens. The four-year-old gelded son of Family Firm-Temptress Hall was a neck better than Lord of Andover, with Whatsupwiththat third.
In the $25,000 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace, Autumn Magic and Dave Palone won what might be called “The Battle of the Seasons,” chilling Spring Break by a head in 1:53.2. Forever Ivy was a closing third.
Kevin McDermott trains the five-year-old daughter of Jennas Beach Boy-Swinging Rita, whose second consecutive victory pushed her career bankroll to $273,698, for Fran Azur.
Palone drove four winners — three for trainer Ron Burke — while Merriman fashioned a triple on the 13-race card.
(The Meadows)