Maxamillus powered to the lead at the three-eighths and went on to victory in 1:58.4, fastest division in Monday’s opening leg of the Winning Mister Trot at The Meadows.
Waikiki Hanover (1:59.4 – Mike Wilder/Dan Altmeyer) and Imagine Hanover (1:59.2 – Brett Miller/Del S. Miller) also took $11,250 splits in the series for three-year-old colts and geldings.
The series is named for Winning Mister, Bob Key’s fast-class trotter who at various times held the track record at four different venues and entered the stud ranks this year.
Using Lasix for the first time, Maxamillus got away fourth for Dick Stillings, who sensed a slowdown in a :31.2 second quarter. Stillings sent Maxamillus after the leader, Born To Fight, and the Tom Ridge-Serrafina gelding defeated that rival by three-quarters of a length, with Pounce K a closing third. Kris Hite trains Maxamillus for owner/breeder Tom Svrcek.
In the $18,000 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace, Do Me Honor turned in a gritty, uncovered third quarter in 27.2 and finally wore down Tremor Hanover to down her by a half-length margin in 1:52.2. The ground-saving Ole Miss was third.
Aaron Merriman drove the five-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Rei-Do Me Right for owner/trainer Bill Bercury. Do Me Honor now has seven wins on the year and $309,538 in her career bank account.
Merriman drove five winners on the 15-race card while Mike Wilder enjoyed a triple.
(The Meadows)