Washingtonian made a decisive quarter-pole move to the lead and went on to capture a division of Monday’s Rembrandt Spur Trot - a victory that kept him undefeated in three career starts - at the Meadows
. Better Caviar took the other $15,000 opening-leg split in the series for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
The series honours world champion Rembrandt Spur, who, for owner Roy Davis and trainer/driver Dick Stillings, amassed four Meadows track records including the current all-age mark of 1:52.2.
Stillings has piloted Washingtonian to all his victories, which have been unusual in that the Malabar Millennium-P Town homebred gelding never has been on top at the quarter. He was more aggressive over the sloppy surface Monday, as he moved smartly to the lead from second and won handily as the 2-5 favourite in 1:57.4. That clocking equaled his lifetime best. Walltocousins was second, with Ridgeandfamous third.
Rich Gillock trains Washingtonian and owns with Barbara Richardson.
Better Caviar rebounded from a break in his last race to launch an extended uncovered move for Dan Rawlings and wear down Fashion Hatter in the lane. Better Caviar defeated Fashion Hatter by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.3 while Grateful John was a non-threatening third.
David Wade trains Better Caviar, a son of SJs Caviar-Better Credit who has lost just once in six career starts, and owns with Gerald Brittingham, Kelley Rogers and William F. Peel III.
In the $22,500 Winners Over $10,000 Life/Preferred Handicap Pace, Here We Go Again made it six consecutive wins with a front-end score in 1:52.4 for Dave Palone. Object Of Art was second, with Bettor Design a rallying third.
When trainer Ron Burke and owners Mark Weaver and Mike Bruscemi acquired the four-year-old Dragon Again-Odds On Jenna gelding early this year, they divided the ownership into 41 reasonably priced shares and invited owners new to the sport to purchase shares in the Here We Go Again Stable. As an introduction to the joys of winning harness races, the syndicate has been a stunning success, as the rookie owners have yet to taste defeat.
Palone, Burke and Mike Wilder each enjoyed a four-bagger on the 15-race card while Eric Ledford fashioned a driving triple.
(The Meadows)