Jeffery P got a second-quarter breather — and needed every bit of it, as he was forced to dig in late to preserve his fourth straight victory in Thursday’s $16,000 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadows.
After a swift :27.2 opening panel, Dave Palone gave Jeffery P a leisurely 30 second quarter. Even so, he was unable to open any distance on the field and was all out to down Rising MVP, who was charging through the Lightning Lane, by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.2. The first-over Icanflylikeanangel was a well-meant third.
Ron Burke trains Jeffery P, a six-year-old Full Count-Betty Jean gelding who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $283,503, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.