Meadowlands: American Border gets up late

American Border got up in the final strides Friday night to win the wide-open Violet Handicap at the Meadowlands.

Only 2 1/2 lengths separated American Border from 11th-place finisher Shytoe Lafeet in the up-for-grabs stretch scramble. Jose Lezcano guided American Border ($24) up the fence to a half-length victory over Le Cordon Bleu, the determined pacesetter at 78-1 in the Grade 3, $150,000 stakes for fillies and mares on the turf. All Is Vanity finished third. The time was 1:41.74 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm course.

It was the fourth win in five starts since trainer Jason Servis claimed the 4-year-old American Border for $30,000 at Monmouth Park in June. There were multiple claims on the filly that afternoon with Servis the lucky winner of the shake.

"I was not thinking she was stakes material, but now she's looking pretty good," Servis said.