Driver Gregg Keidel guided Matterlei to an easy 1:55.4 victory in a leg of the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association's (GLADA) at Scoto Downs on Friday evening (Sept. 4) turning back five other challengers.
Knowing he had the best in the race, Keidel sent his charge to the front but his competitors played hardball. Alisha Binkley, up behind the second choice Cantab Lindy, did her best and kept Keidel's 1-5 shot on the limb as the fractional times flashed :27.4, 56:4 and 1:25.3. The two raced head to head throughout and it wasn't until the six-horse field passed the third quarter that Matterlei took command, albeit by just a nose.
Kiara Morgan chased the leaders with Atlas Peak and was within striking at the the head of the lane, but the top prize in the $9,000 contest was going to go to “Fast Greggy” and odds-on favourite Matterlei. They crossed the finish line in 1:55.4, two lengths ahead of Cantab Lindy. Atlas Peak garnered the show dough.
For Kiedel, who's done about everything in the sport, it was his first win of the season and the 107th in his career.
Matterlei, a four-year-old Explosive Matter mare scored her fourth win on the season. She's owned by Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi and trained by Ron Burke.
The next event in the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Series will be on Sunday (Sept. 9) at Northfield Park.
(GLADA)