Beads barreled from post 10 in the initial straightaway sprint to land a pocket trip, and then shook loose in the homestretch dash to win the $400,000 E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity on Saturday (July 17) at The Meadowlands.
Gangster Hanover grabbed the lead in the charge to the first turn with Absattitudexpress securing the pocket and Beads floating first-over. Past the opening quarter in :26, Beads seized the lead while 8-5 favourite Ready For Moni circumvented traffic with a three-wide spurt for the front. Beads clicked the half in :55.1, but soon yielded control to Ready For Moni midway up the backstretch.
As Ready For Moni cruised to three-quarters in 1:23.1, Hypnotic AM spun three-wide and surged towards the pacesetter heading to the top of the stretch. Hypnotic AM loomed closer to a game Ready For Moni, but room opened for driver David Miller to split his rivals with Beads. Popping the pocket, Beads slid through at the 1:50.4 mile mark en route to a one-length win over Hypnotic AM, completing the 1-1/8-mile race in 2:04.4. Ready For Moni settled for third while Sorella, weaving through traffic, snagged fourth.
“He’s been unlucky with the post draws when we’ve been going for big money last year and this year, but today he did his own race and did it well,” winning trainer Per Engblom said after the race. “He never won from behind before; this is the first time he’s winning that he’s not been on the lead. But the trip was great.”
A four-year-old son of Archangel competing for Buckstone Land Livestock, Beads won his 11th race from 30 starts and pushed his career earnings to $547,963. He returned $19.00 to win.
(The Meadowlands)
The Hambletonian Maturity was part of a massive night of stakes at The Meadowlands. Full coverage is available in the Meadowlands Pace news centre.