Shuffled to fifth and with little racing room, His Excellence found a path to victory deep in the 'lighting lane' and pulled off a 9-1 upset in Saturday’s $15,000 opening leg of the Tom Kirwan Memorial Pace at The Meadows.
Using Lasix for the first time, His Excellence was away third but never saw daylight until Aaron Merriman pointed him to the passing lane. He blew by 1-5 favourite Daddyofemall and scored in 1:55.4 over a 'good' surface. Pocket-sitting Antagonist also rallied inside for second, a neck back, while the previously undefeated Daddyofemall saved show.
Randy Bendis trains His Excellence, a Well Said-So Ravishing gelding, and owns with Tom Pollack, Reed Broadway and Mike Novosel, Jr.
The series for three-year-old colts and geldings honours the memory of Tom Kirwan, who began his career as a trainer/driver at The Meadows and later served for many years as the track’s stall superintendent.
Bendis and Pollack also took the $20,000 Preferred Pace when the Bendis-trained A Real Miracle used a second-over trip to score in 1:51.1 at 14-1. Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. piloted the eight-year-old son of Real Desire-I Need A Miracle, who extended his career bankroll to $324,233.
(With files from The Meadows)