Axios enjoyed a cozy pocket trip, then brushed through the Lightning Lane to capture the fastest opening-leg division in Monday’s TSM Photo Bugger Trot at The Meadows.
Upfront Billy Boy and Andover The Gold also took $17,500 splits in the series for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. The event is named for TSM Photo Bugger, Ted Tomson’s hard-hitting trotter who competes regularly in Preferred contests at The Meadows.
Axios had won two straight entering the series but was facing more experienced company in the TSM Photo Bugger. He rated kindly for Wilbur Yoder before blowing by the leader, Tea Party Politics, to down him by a length in 1:59.2 on a “good” surface. Jett Star was third. Rich Gillock trains the Malabar Millennium-Town Girl gelding and owns with Barbara Richardson.
Upfront Billy Boy suffered gaiting problems in his recent outings but was using Lasix for the first time Monday. He followed cover beautifully for Brian Zendt and surged late to edge Son Of A Ridge by a head in 1:59.3, a career best. Glide To Glory earned show. Bill Zendt conditions Upfront Billy Boy, a Donato Hanover-Wherley gelding, and owns with Up Front Racing.
Dave Palone drove four winners on the 15-race card.
(The Meadows)