Michaelrowyourboat sets Meadows all-age trot mark

Michaelrowyourboat unleashed a powerful uncovered bid that carried him past the dueling leaders and on to victory in 1:52.3--fastest mile ever trotted at The Meadows--in Wednesday’s $27,500 Preferred Handicap.

 

Hidden Viggorish, the 4-5 favorite, set sail for the front but found herself battling for the point with a stubborn Master Begonia, who would not release her. Hidden Viggorish finally cleared past the half but had to endure fractions of :26.4 and :55.

 

That set the stage for the winning burst by Michaelrowyourboat and trainer/driver Jimmy Smith, who scored by a length over Master Begonia, with Hidden Viggorish saving show. Hidden Viggorish established the previous all-age track record of 1:53.1--a mark that still stands as the fastest ever by a 3-year-old trotting filly on a five-eighths mile track--in 2006.

 

Flowing Mineral Farm owns Michaelrowyourboat, a 4-year-old gelded son of Victory Sam-Tall Sunflower who has won 17 races and $365,871 over the past two seasons.

 

Dick Stillings drove four winners and Brett Miller three on the 15-race card. (The Meadows)