Mystical Banker capitalized off of an early speed duel to win the $80,500 Horse and Groom Final on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.
Mystical Banker and driver John Campbell sat patiently in the pocket as Jabez and Im A Hotshot battled for the lead. Mystical Banker angled out from his cover in the stretch and surged to the lead to win by one-half length in personal best of 1:55.1. Sierra’s Dream finished second and it was three and a quarter lengths back to Im A Hotshot in third. Mystical Banker paid $5.00 to win. “He is a very honest horse,” Campbell said from the winner’s circle. “He doesn’t have high speed but he gives you everything he’s got and goes to the wire. (The speed duel) made all the difference. If Eric Goodell’s horse (Im A Hotshot) cleared, we would have gotten shuffled back. As he gets more confident, he will get higher speed. The best part about him is his attitude and you can’t teach that.” Trained by Nick Giberson, the four-year-old gelded son of Valley Victory posted his second victory of the year in his seventh start and increased his lifetime earnings to $164,807 for L&L Devisser LLC of Holland, Michigan. (Meadowlands)
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