Final Breath relentlessly wore down the leader from first over and rolled to an easy victory over a distinguished field in the $17,900 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadows on Tuesday (July 28).
Perlucky took the lead after a demanding :27.1 opening panel left him vulnerable. Final Breath and Tony Hall pounced, putting away Perlucky and drawing off to score in 1:52.2, matching his career best. Icanflylikeanangel found the Lightning Lane in time for second, three lengths back, while Jailhouse Sam rallied for show.
Norm Parker trains Final Breath, a 10-year-old Victory Sam-First Breath gelding who now boasts a career bankroll of $648,332, for Duane Lowe.
In Tuesday’s co-feature, the $16,200 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace, Blue Ivy survived a contentious first quarter and scored in 1:51.4 for Aaron Merriman, trainer Bill Bercury and owner Renee Bercury. The four-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous-All Blue lifted her lifetime earnings to $230,060.
Brian Zendt and Merriman each fashioned a triple on the 15-race card.
Live racing at The Meadows continues Wednesday (July 29) when the program features a pair of Arden Downs Grand Circuit stakes: the $37,644 Edward M. Ryan for two-year-old trotting colt and geldings and the $38,244 Judge Joe McGraw for freshmen trotting fillies. On the wagering front, the card offers a $1,842.42 carryover in the Early Pick 5 (Race 2). First post is 12:45 p.m. (EDT).
(The Meadows)