Major Look polished her credentials as a top candidate for divisional honours Saturday at The Meadows when she scored in 1:49.3, shattering the stake record in her split of the $141,170 Quinton Patterson Adioo Volo for three-year-old filly pacers.
Destinys Chance took the other Adioo Volo division with an impressive first-over move.
The event was part of a stakes-rich card, headlined by the $500,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios, that closed out Grand Circuit Week at The Meadows.
Major Look previously served notice that she’s a major player among sophomore fillies with a 10-1 upset of division leader American Jewel in the Mistletoe Shalee. She made it look easy in the Adioo Volo, quarter-poling to the lead for Andy Miller and drawing off to win by two and a quarter lengths. Moonlit Dragon was third-placed-second after being bothered in the stretch by Darena Hanover, who was disqualified to third.
The time erased the old Adioo Volo mark of 1:50.4 set by Pasta Lavista in 2008 and was two ticks off The Meadows all-age distaff record.
“She’s the real deal,” said winning trainer Kevin McDermott. “She just doesn’t stop. She’s a monster. When they come at her, she just keeps going. Andy drives her aggressively, the way I think she wants to be driven. It’s a dream come true when a horse like this shows up in your barn.
“It’s a thrill to win this. I always wanted to win the Adios, that’s my biggest race to ever win. Well, I didn’t win the Adios, but I won the Adioo Volo today. It feels very good.”
Joseph Balkunas, Mark Giordano and Anthony Pancella own the daughter of Art Major-Band of Emeralds, who has won six of eight starts this year.
Destinys Chance, out of the money in her four most recent starts, appeared ready to extend that streak when a futile attempt for the early lead left her parked out for Tony Hall. But she found a seat, gathered herself and overpowered Real Touch in the lane to score in a career-best 1:51.1. Marty Party rallied for second, one and a quarter lengths back, while Real Touch saved show.
Ron Burke trains the daughter of Four Starzzz Shark-Four Starz Sands, who vaulted over $400,000 in lifetime earnings, for Randy Ringer.
(The Meadows)