Meadowlands: Longshots rule in Hambletonian Oaks elims

The 2020 Breeders Crown champion Lady Chaos had started the year slowly, winning just once in seven tries, but the Cantab Hall-sired filly found her "A" game on Saturday night at the Meadowlands for driver David Miller, going wire-to-wire in a 1:52 4/5 clocking to capture the first of two $35,000 eliminations for the Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the trot.

Miller had Lady Chaos on her toes and drove to the lead alertly at the outset, seating You Ato Dream in the pocket prior to the 27 4/5 opening quarter. From there, Lady Chaos was able to rate the second quarter kindly in just 29 1/5 as 2-5 favorite Bella Bellini and driver Dexter Dunn played possum, not wanting to advance prematurely and tow rivals into the fray.

Once Dunn finally pushed the 'go' button with Bella Bellini, the Bar Hopping filly hit high gear quickly and looked to be trotting right past Lady Chaos as the two accelerated into the final turn. Miller didn't allow that to happen, and Lady Chaos drove on, keeping her rival at bay through a 27 4/5 third quarter.

In the homestretch, it was a match race between the 8-1 Lady Chaos and the heavily-backed Bella Bellini, with Lady Chaos gamely holding her position to the wire by a head and earning post preference for the $500,000 final on August 7. Bella Bellini settled for second, with You Ato Dream third across the wire. Contested Hanover and Scott Zeron weaved through traffic for fourth, and Brian Sears had last year's Jim Doherty winner, Darlene Hanover, airborne in the closing yards to earn the final spot.

Lady Chaos is trained by Linda Toscano for owners Richard Gutnick, Tom Pontone, Joseph Lozito Jr., and Enviro Stables. She returned $18.60 to win.

"She fought tonight," said Toscano proudly of her filly. "So I was tickled with her. She's an absolute pleasure to train."

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The second Oaks elimination saw fillies coming from everywhere in the homestretch, but it was Scott Zeron behind 24-1 shot Awesome Trix that found the shortest route, skimming the pylons late to score the upset in a 1:52 4/5 mile.

There was action from the outset, as Dutiful left sharply, along with Flawless Country and Iteration. Dutiful put Flawless Country in the pocket early but parked Iteration to the 28 second first quarter before releasing her. Big City Pearl left from the outside post 10 and found herself parked for Verlin Yoder, who sent the filly up to challenge through the second quarter. Iteration and Big City Pearl were on even terms through the 56 second half, with Flawless Country moving up with cover second-over, followed by Hot As Hill and 4-5 favorite Donna Soprano in the outer flow.

Brian Sears had Iteration in control at three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, but horses fanned across the track and sought room between rivals. Iteration was brave, fighting off challengers for much of the stretch, but Zeron had been fortunate as the two horses he had been following while fourth on the pylons at the three-quarters fanned out for room that opened up the inside lane for Awesome Trix to utilize. Under Zeron's urging, Awesome Trix hit high gear late for the one length victory.

Iteration finished second, with Hot As Hill, Flawless Country, and Piper Hanover following her across the wire to earn spots in the rich final.

Awesome Trix, a daughter of Trixton that cost $13,000 as a yearling, the least of the 10 in the field, is owned by trainer Chris Beaver along with Aaron Merriman and Robert McNerney. In winning for the third time this year, Awesome Trix returned $50.80 to win.

"She interfered a lot as a 2-year-old but had high speed," said Beaver following the win. "She's getting stronger this year and learning to go."