East Rutherford, NJ – Maximus Miki (Always B Miki) and driver Scott Zeron won the $350,000 Grade 1 FanDuel Open Trot Championship by 1-3/4 lengths over Ken Hanover in a record 1:47.3 on Saturday, followed three races later by Lexus Kody and Yannick Gingras who won the $350,000 Grade 1 FanDuel Open Trot Championship by 2-1/4 lengths over Periculum in 1:51, both over a “good” number at The Meadowlands.
In the FanDuel Open Pace Championship, Maximus Miki took the field into the first quarter in :26 before ultimately conceding to Ken Hanover heading into halftime in :53.4. Ken Hanover stayed in front until three-quarters in 1:21, but couldn’t stop Maximus Miki on the track as he sprinted home in :26.2 on his way to his seventh win of the year. Ken Hanover came in second, followed by Coaches Corner and Captain Albano.
Maximus Miki is owned by John Cancelliere and trained by Tom Cancelliere. The 6 year old son of Always B Miki-Beach Gal was bred by Sergent Stables. During his career, Maximus Miki has won 28 of 63 races and earned more than $1 million.
“It had nothing to do with me, it all had to do with Tommy,” John Cancelliere said. “He kept saying all the time that I was going to love this horse, and I actually love him. I knew Tommy and his team would have him ready to go, and I knew Scotty Z would be more than ready to go.”
Maximus Miki has won five different stakes this season, with victories in the Canadian Pacing Derby (G1), Hoosier Park Pacing Derby (G2), a division of the William R. Haughton Memorial (G2) and Potomac Pace (G3) joining the FanDuel. He has more than $760,000 in his bank account this year.
MAXIMUM MIKI REPEAT
When asked where he thought Maximus Miki fared in the race for Dan Patch Award division honors, John Cancelliere said, “That’s up to other people, that’s up to me. In my eyes, he’s the top dog. I had ($2.7 million earner) Bettor Sweet, and he was beautiful, and this guy rates right on the same level as him. We can only hope for the best.”
Maximus Miki was sent off at odds of 5-1 and paid $12.40 to win.
After the race, 2024 Dan Patch Award winner Abuckabett Hanover, who finished fifth in the FanDuel Open Pace Championship, was honored as he heads into retirement. “Bucky” won 24 of 91 career races and earned more than $2.1 million in his career for owners Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harris, who also trained the horse.
“It’s a little difficult,” Pollock said. “He’s the first horse I’ve ever had with Andrew and Bruce, and he races with his heart and soul and gives you everything he’s got. Last year he was really great. It’s always sad when one of your first ones is gone and you don’t really get to see him again. He’s [going to stand as a stallion at Tara Hills Stud] in Canada, so I’m not going to see it. But he worked hard and gave us everything he could.”
In the FanDuel Open Trot Championship, Aetos Kronos S reached the field in the opening quarter in:27.1, but Lexus Kody and Gingras took control from there, reaching the halfway mark in:55.2 and three-quarters in 1:23.3 on their way to the comfortable victory. Logan Park and Up Your Deo followed Periculum behind Lexus Kody.
The victory was Lexus Kody’s 11th in 21 races this season, and seventh in eight starts since early August. His only setback during that stretch was the Oct. 25 Breeders Crown final at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he finished third.
“That’s an incredible mile tonight,” said winning trainer Ron Burke. ‘That is [1]:48 in summer. That’s as good as he’s been all year. We were a little disappointed in the Breeders Crown; he got a rough trip, but i thought he could have been better. [Tonight] is the horse he has been for the last three months, so I was very happy with him.”
Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phil Collura own Lexus Kody, who boosted his season earnings to more than $1.3 million with his FanDuel win. The 7 year old son of Archangel-Lexus Helios was bred by Norm Dunstan.
LEXUS CODY REPEAT
Throughout his career, Lexus Kody has won 37 of 90 races and collected $1.9 million. Other wins this season include the MGM Yonkers International Trot (G1) and Maple Leaf Trot (G1).
Lexus Kody, the 2-1 second choice behind even-money favorite Periculum, paid $6.60 to win.
For full race results, click here: American trotting results
Through Ken Weingartnerfor The Meadowlands
#Maximus #Miki #stuns