Meadowlands: Atlanta blows away rivals in Miss Versatility

Atlanta, coming off a win in the Cutler Memorial last Saturday, converted a second-over trip into a facile 1:51 2/5 triumph over the off going in a $40,000 leg of the Miss Versatility Series for open trotting mares on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Atlanta got away in fifth and followed the live cover of Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt). Plunge Blue Chip forged her way to a narrow advantage in upper stretch over Kenziesky Hanover (Corey Callahan), who posted fractions of 26 1/5, 55 3/5, and 1:24 3/5, but Gingras had Atlanta out and moving three-wide late on the final turn, and she would go right by both of the leaders. From there, Atlanta drew off, hitting the wire 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Plunge Blue Chip. Felicityshagwell (Andy Miller) angled out from the pocket in the stretch and was third.

Ron Burke trains Atlanta, a 5-year-old mare by Chapter Seven, for owners Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant, and Howard Taylor. Atlanta is now a 22-time winner, has put away $2,026,089 and paid $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

"I wasn't concerned about the sloppy track because I knew Yannick would adjust to the conditions," said Burke. "The truth is, she prefers to get the kind of trip she got tonight. I wanted to follow Plunge Blue Chip, and as long as we could outkick her, we'd be alright. I am going to give Atlanta next week off. I don't want to over-race her. She's more Thoroughbred than Standardbred. She'll go next in two weeks in the Spirit of Massachusetts at Plainridge."

Not only did the 2018 Hambletonian champion win on the card, but so did 2019's as Forbidden Trade (Scott Zeron) shipped down from Woodbine Mohawk Park for his third start of his 4-year-old campaign. Racing in a $17,000 non-winners of $20,000 last five condition race, Forbidden Trade overtook leader JL Cruze (Dexter Dunn) from first-up in the lane and pulled away to win by a pair of lengths in 1:52.

Forbidden Trade, a son of Kadabra, was a rallying fourth in the preferred back on June 29 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and then won a qualifier on July 7 at that track before shipping to New Jersey for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination. He was Canada's Horse of the Year in 2019 and has upcoming stakes engagements that include the Hambletonian Maturity.

--Burke quote courtesy of the Meadowlands--