Aided by a last-minute equipment adjustment, Rage N Ryan poured through the Lightning Lane to capture Tuesday’s $32,400 championship of the Here We Go Again Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings at The Meadows
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Tony Hall guided Rage N Ryan to victory, and Hall was just getting started. He drove seven winners on the 16-race card. The 33-year-old Hall, who ranked third in UDRS and earnings at The Meadows at the start of the day, also had two seconds among his 12 assignments.
Rage N Ryan boasted a win and a second in preliminary series legs, but Hall indicated he was on a line and providing steering problems. Trainer Justin Lebo, who owns the Allamerican Native-Southwind Wesley homebred with Chester Lebo, Jr., opted for a race-time change.
“He was running out a little bit last week,” Lebo said, “so we put on a Murphy blind outside. He was good today. He can be a handful at times, but he tries. And I don’t think they make them any bigger.”
Rage N Ryan worked out a pocket trip behind 6-5 favourite Dungeon Dragon, but would he take to the Lightning Lane? Indeed he would, brushing to score in a career-best 1:53.2. A rallying One Lucky Dragon was a head back in second while Dungeon Dragon saved show.
“If the Lightning Lane was my only option, I was worried about being able to get him down in there,” Hall said. “But the equipment adjustment fixed him.”
Lebo said the colt earned a chance at Pennsylvania Sires Stakes competition.
“We’ll try him in the sires stakes and go from there,” he said. “We’ll see how he does in the first one, then pick our spots.”
In the $22,500 Preferred Handicap Pace, Schoolkids made it three straight with a front-end victory in 1:52.2 for Dave Palone, trainer Mike Palone and owner New Jennaration LLC. Jojo N Goliath, whose rally fell a neck short, settled for his fourth consecutive place finish, with Valentowner late on the scene for show.
A six-year-old son of I Am A Fool-Game Bunny, Schoolkids extended his career bankroll to $823,300. It was one of three wins on the card for Dave Palone.
Wednesday’s program at The Meadows features the $27,400 final of the Action Broadway Trot for three-year-old fillies. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)