Three newcomers vaulted into this week’s Top 10 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, led by three-year-old male pacer Perfect Sting, who landed at No. 6 after defeating older rivals in 1:48.1 at The Meadowlands. The time equaled the fastest mile of the season by a sophomore pacer.
Racine Bell and Ruthless Hanover also entered the Top 10. Racine Bell, ranked No. 8, won the Kissin In The Sand Series final while Ruthless Hanover, at No. 9, won the fourth leg of the Graduate Series for pacers. Racine Bell’s time of 1:48.1 equaled the world record for a four-year-old female pacer on a mile track.
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Per Engblom’s trotting enigma Beads, whose frequent breaks in stride shadowed his speed, put the pieces together on Saturday (May 22) at The Meadowlands to win the second of two $50,000 opening-preliminary divisions of the Graduate Series Trot.
Away from post 6, driver David Miller floated Beads to the top as 8-5 favourite Lovedbythemasses broke stride moving to the first turn. Beads cleared command through a :26.4 opening quarter while pocketing Sorella into the backstretch, and slowed the tempo to a :55 half before the backfield began to move.
Sorella crept out of the pocket with Amigo Volo in tow as Beads cruised by three-quarters in 1:23.4. Off the turn, Beads started to step away from the competition and continued to widen his margin to the finish of a 1:50.2 mile. Amigo Volo rallied for second with Moon Bridge and Gangster Hanover sliding into contention for third and fourth, respectively.