Rembrandt Spur sets Meadows trot record

Perfectly exploiting the raging speed duel in front of him, Rembrandt Spur pounced on the tiring leaders and captured Thursday’s $25,000 Preferred Handicap Trot in a remarkable 1:52.2, fastest mile ever trotted at The Meadows.
 
Winning Mister set the stage for the historic mile when he parked even-money favorite Triumphant Caviar well past the half. Triumphant Caviar eventually cleared to the lead but had to trot three-quarters in a wicked 1:23.3. That was the signal for Rembrandt Spur and trainer/driver Dick Stillings to cut loose. They came home in 28.4 to defeat the game Triumphant Caviar by 4-1/2 lengths, with Oatmeister a distant third.
 
Michaelrowyourboat last year set the previous all-age Meadows trotting mark of 1:52.3. The mile by Rembrandt Spur was only 2 ticks off Macho Lindy’s all-age trotting world record for 5/8-mile tracks.
 
Roy Davis owns Rembrandt Spur, a 4-year-old Pegasus Spur-Marty E gelding who vaulted over $200,000 in career earnings. Rembrandt Spur now holds or shares three trotting track records — all achieved with Stillings — in addition to the all-age mark, including:
 

* Fastest mile by a 4-year-old gelding, 1:52.2.
* Fastest mile by a 3-year-old gelding, 1:53.3, a world record for 5/8-mile tracks shared with Shermans Mountain.
* Fastest dead heat (with Diamond Hunter), 1:55.1, a world record as well for 5/8-mile tracks.

Aaron Merriman and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 14-race card. (The Meadows)