American Fling launched a decisive backside burst that vaulted him to the lead and on to victory in Saturday’s $26,301 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadows.
American Fling (pictured above) grabbed the early lead for Mike Wilder, but thanks to a flurry of first quarter movement, found himself shuffled to third. That was the signal for Wilder to attack. The four-year-old American Ideal-Feeling You gelding overpowered HP Momentum on the point and rolled home in 1:50.1 for trainer Randall Bendis, who co-owns with Reed Broadway and Pollack Racing. Bonniprinclouis N finished second, a length back, with Dragon City third.
Elsewhere on Saturday’s card, Distant Drums rebounded from a sickness scratch to capture his seventh straight race in a career-best 1:53.2. The five-year-old Trixton-Altar Gal gelding took a $16,301 conditioned trot for Wilder, trainer Sarah Andrews and owner Matthew Miller.
Wilder collected a total of five wins on the 13-race card while Hunter Myers and trainer Brandon Presto each fashioned a triple. Wilder and Presto teamed up for a victory with In Rock We Trust in the finale.
Allen Sisco and 6-5 favourite Golden Compass saved ground for most of the mile then brushed past Troycen, driven by Presto, in the lane to win by a half-length in Saturday’s $13,699 Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association (GLADA) Trot. The winning time for the six-year-old Sebastian K S-Zette Angel gelding was 1:57.1. Holton and Steve Oldford finished third. It was an especially gladdening GLADA for Sisco, who trains both Golden Compass and Holton, and Oldford, whose Oldford Racing LLC owns the duo.
Live harness racing at The Meadows resumes on Wednesday when the program features a $ $458.10 carryover in the Early Pentafecta (Race 4). First post is 12:45 p.m.
(With files from Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)