Sand Vic sets record

Sand Vic continued his hot streak with a stakes record 1:51.2 victory in the $200,000 Titan Cup at the Meadowlands Saturday night over Elegant Man with Corleone Kosmos third. The time for the mile was a lifetime mark for the winner and was just one-fifth of a second off Varenne’s world mark.

He’s Striking took the field of nine (Mohammed Mali was scratched sick) to the quarter in :27.1 then Roger Hammer pulled 2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo from the three hole and rushed up to lead the field past the half in :55. Going to the 1:23.3 three quarters Elegant Man and Cast Manzi mounted a first-over challenge with Sand Vic following his cover.

Turning for home Vivid Photo gave it up as Elegant Man moved into the lead with Sand Vic in pursuit. Sand Vic steadily gained on the leader and pulled ahead for a one-length victory while Elegant Man held on for second in a photo with Corleone Kosmos and John Campbell.

Sears said the early pace dictated his strategy.

“They were mixing up pretty good early,” Sears said. “Roger (Hammer) was racing his horse pretty aggressive tonight and I couldn’t ask for a better trip following Elegant Man. He raced a tough trip first-over. He was able to take me right to the head of the lane.”

The record time did not surprise Sears, either.

“This horse has gone there before and he’s very talented, very good gaited and gets over the ground real easy.”

Sand Vic is trained by Trond Smedshammer, who earlier in the evening won two Dancer Memorial eliminations and a Miller Memorial elimination and was second in two other elims. He explained the progress of Sand Vic, who has won four in a row after going winless in 14 starts last year:

“He just got mentally a little tougher and his competition, there’s no Mr. Muscleman to battle against. This was a very good horse last year. People forget he made almost a half a million dollars, trotting miles in 1:51 and 52 every week. He’s just put it together a little bit more this year.”

Sand Vic, whose lifetime earnings jumped to $922,322 with the victory, is owned by August Miedel.

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