In the $25,000 Preferred Handicap Trot on Thursday at The Meadows, Rembrandt Spur had the winners’ circle all to himself after dead-heating last week with Diamond Hunter in world-record time
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Rembrandt Spur moved first over from fourth for trainer/driver Dick Stillings and scored in 1:54.1, 1-1/4 lengths better than Chips And Wings, with Diamond Hunter third. The trifecta was unusual in that it featured three track record-holders — two of them also world-record holders.
Roy Davis owns Rembrandt Spur, a 4-year-old gelded son of Pegasus Spur-Marty E. It was one of three driving victories for Stillings on the 13-dash card of harness racing.
Agenda Tom Ridge unleashed a stunning backside brush that propelled her from fifth to first in a heartbeat and went on to win a division of the Hidden Viggorish, a series for 3-year-old trotting fillies. Rosey Chick captured the other $15,000 opening-leg split.
Agenda Tom Ridge had collected two victories and a close-up second since adding Lasix, but Thursday’s triumph was her most impressive. She left alertly for Dave Palone from post 8 and settled in before blitzing the leaders with her uncovered move. She prevailed by 3/4 lengths over Miss Poinsettia, with Flawless Lindy a rallying third.
Ron Burke trains and Fulton Nine Partners owns Agenda Tom Ridge a daughter of Tom Ridge-Agenda Hanover.
Rosey Chick’s win was nearly as noteworthy although not quite as dramatic. Opening her sophomore campaign off a layoff of more then six months, she grabbed the lead at the quarter pole for Aaron Merriman and notched a facile victory in 2:00.2. Cantab Lady was 3-1/2 lengths back in second while TSM Meadow Miss closed well for show.
David Brickell trains Rosey Chick, a daughter of SJs Caviar-Rosalita who won for the sixth time in 20 career starts, for Jack and Sharon Claypoole. The series is named for world champion Hidden Viggorish, whose 2006 mile at The Meadows in 1:53.1 remains the fastest ever trotted by a sophomore filly on a 5/8-mile track.
(The Meadows)