Even at the age of seven, the talented Lexus Kody continues to evolve, and the Ron Burke trainee kept the good times going on Friday, May 31 at The Meadowlands in the $37,671 Open Handicap for trotters, taking a second straight weekly marquee event.
“He’s actually behaving right now,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras of the horse who has a bit of a breaking problem. “Right now, he’s two fingers to drive. He’s a beauty to drive when he’s like this.”
For a six-horse field, there was plenty of talent to go around, and $1.2 million lifetime earner Ari Ferrari J (Brett Beckwith) was on the go early from post five, moving four-wide into the first turn before securing the top and hitting the quarter in :26.4.
Shortly thereafter, Lexus Kody marched up to the top and led at the half in :55.3. Outside The Fire (Johnathan Ahle), a late-closing second to ‘Kody’ last week, was on the outside making up ground at that point and challenged the leader at three-quarters, which was timed in 1:24.1.
But, as usual, Lexus Kody would prove tough to pass when on the point.
The gelded son of Archangel-Lexus Helios held sway to the wire, as a determined Outside The Fire kept up alongside preventing Ari Ferrari J from getting enough room while loaded with trot to reach the eventual winner, coming up three-quarters of a length short after finally finding space. Outside The Fire was third.
“He had plenty more [nearing the wire],” said Gingras. “Down the stretch, I knew Brett [Beckwith, driving Ari Ferrari J] had some trot behind me. I didn’t want to let him out.
“Early last year, [Lexus Kody] was misbehaving. Then, he was good for a long time but then maybe got a little tired at the end of the year. Now, he’s not doing anything wrong. He has big lungs and can go fast a long, long time.”
After completing the mile in 1:50.3, Lexus Kody’s numbers stand at 29 wins from 77 career starts, good for earnings of $840,378. He is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phillip Collura.
Lexus Kody paid $3 to win as the 1-2 favourite.
All Too Well took the fifth race at odds of 12-1, giving big smiles to those who cashed in for $12,194 with winning 20-cent Pick-5 tickets. Winners' odds for the first four legs of the sequence were 3-5, 9-1, 5-1 and 4-5.
There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $5,085. Those with five correct collected $48.82. Players should take note that with 12 races scheduled for the Saturday program, the Pick-6 will begin with the seventh race.
All-source handle totalled $2,828,948 USD on the 14-race program.
Racing resumes on Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)