Pinned along the pylons in the stretch, RN Nate swerved sharply outside and roared home to pull off a 24-1 upset victory in Tuesday’s $32,800 championship of the Visible Gold Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings at The Meadows.
Roger Hammer, driver, trainer, breeder and owner of RN Nate, was giving the Nuclear Breeze-RN Artist gelding a ground-saving trip but found himself sitting fifth behind a stopping rival, in desperate need of room.
“We came off the rail so fast that we nearly hit Dickie’s (Stillings) wheel,” Hammer said. “I had to take up a little bit to make sure I cleared him.”
With that clearance, RN Nate gobbled up the leaders and scored in a career-best 1:53.3. Well Bred shot the Lightning Lane for place, a length behind, with the first-over Chaching Hanover and Stillings third.
RN Nate showed considerable promise at two, winning eight of 10 starts while taking a mark of 1:54, when injury struck.
“He got a hairline crack in a coffin bone — that’s why we had to quit with him,” Hammer said.
For the balance of RN Nate’s sophomore campaign, Hammer indicated he would follow the recipe that has been so successful for him over the years — a touch of PA Fairs, a dash of PA Stallion Series, perhaps a dollop of PA Sires Stakes for flavour.
“I’ll just take a little bit of money,” he said.
The win gives Hammer 3,998 career driving victories.
Wednesday’s card at The Meadows features the $36,700 championship of the Daylon Miracle Trot for three-year-old fillies (race 9) as well as a $15,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick 4 (races 4-7). First post is 12:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)