Sam Hill had to work hard for the early lead, but he was much the best once he got there, earning his third straight victory in Friday’s $15,000 Winners Over $10,000 Life Pace at The Meadows.
Carols Comet seized the lead and forced Sam Hill to a :27.1 opening quarter. But the nine-year-old Artsplace-Apple Of My Eye gelding suffered no anxious moments thereafter, easily thwarting the first-over challenge of Hillbilly Hanover to defeat him by half a length in 1:51.3. Visible Gold rallied for show.
Greg Wright Jr. piloted Sam Hill, who extended his lifetime bankroll to $378,477, for trainer John Sullivan and owner Don Tiger.
Eric Goodell drove three winners on the 12-race card. Friday’s 11th race, a $5,000 claiming pace, produced what might be called the geriatric trifecta — Fox Valley Armor (age 13), Just Pretend A (age 14), Western Kissed (age 10). Among them, the trio has amassed 812 career starts.
(The Meadows)