Meadowlands: Diabolic Hill outduels Spencer Hanover in Valley Victory thriller

In the Grade 1 $421,000 Valley Victory, for 2-year-old male trotters on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, Diabolic Hill yielded mid-race to Spencer Hanover before getting the better of him in a stretch-long duel, prevailing in 1:53 / over good going.

Diabolic Hill and driver Todd McCarthy followed AI (driven by Yannick Gingras) in a two-wide tow on the first turn through a 28 / first quarter before pushing clear with five-eighths to go and immediately yielding to Spencer Hanover (Jason Bartlett) to stalk a 56 / half. With five-sixteenths remaining, McCarthy was back out and moving with Diabolic Hill, and the Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream colt stuck a head in front off the corner for home. Spencer Hanover fought back inside at the eighth pole, but Diabolic Hill countered his rival's move and reached the winning post a head in front. Nix Nacken (Dexter Dunn) finished third, beaten 3-1/4 lengths.

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"He's just phenomenal - the way he fought down the stretch, you can't ask for more from a horse," said trainer Annie Stoebe, who co-owns Diabolic Hill with Mazza Racing Stables. "Him going on the road really helped (with his maturity); he's just a smart boy. It's so rewarding to have an animal that powerful perform like that."

Now a five-time winner from 10 starts with $506,636 in earnings, Diabolic Hill paid $4.20 to win as the even-money favorite.