Harrah's Philadelphia: Antognoni S romps in Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational

Antognoni S and driver Yannick Gingras bided their time in second behind Sir Pinocchio for three-quarters of a mile before pouncing in the final turn to capture Sunday's $100,000 Grade 3 Maxie Lee Invitational for older trotters by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:50 4/5 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Longshot Southwind Arturo, sent off at 61-1, finished second while defending Maxie Lee champion Aetos Kronos S was third and Sir Pinocchio fourth.

Sir Pinocchio went for the lead at the start from post five and led Antognoni S, who left from post four, to the first quarter in 26 1/5. Sir Pinocchio remained on top to the half in 54 4/5 and three-quarters in 1:22 3/5 before Antognoni S moved to the outside ahead of first-over Aetos Kronos in third and trotted home in 27 4/5 to notch his third win of the season and sixth in-a-row since this past December.

"He really is push-button now," Gingras said about Antognoni S, who has won 19 of 27 races and earned $565,337 since arriving in North America last year. "He's so handy the way he is, and he's so quick when you make a move, that he's going to put himself in the right position more often than not.

"I was taking my time to get out. If (Aetos Kronos S) would have gotten closer, I would have pulled, I didn't want to stay in the two-hole, but I knew the longer I could wait the better. He can trot the turn just as fast as the straightaway, so I knew I could take a shot in the turn, and he would give me a good run."

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Antognoni S is a 6-year-old gelded son of Father Patrick-Bouncing Bax. He is trained by Ron Burke, a four-time Maxie Lee winner, for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC., FAC Racing, and Gingras.

"I'm excited for the season," Gingras said after Antognoni S gave the driver his fifth triumph in the Maxie Lee. "Hopefully, he stays sound and healthy and he'll do the rest."

Antognoni S, the 1-5 favorite, has won 25 of 47 career races and earned $626,661. He paid $2.40 to win.