Meadowlands: Maximus Miki, Lexus Kody successful In FanDuel Open Championships

Maximus Miki and driver Scott Zeron won Saturday's $350,000 Grade 1 FanDuel Open Pace Championship by 1 3/4 lengths over Ken Hanover in a stakes-record-equaling 1:47 3/5, followed three races later by Lexus Kody and Yannick Gingras capturing the $350,000 Grade 1 FanDuel Open Trot Championship by 2 1/4 lengths over Periculum in 1:51, both over a "good" track at the Meadowlands.

In the FanDuel Open Pace Championship, Maximus Miki took the field to the first quarter in 26 seconds before eventually yielding to Ken Hanover on their way to the half in 53 4/5. Ken Hanover remained in front to three-quarters in 1:21 but was unable to hold off Maximus Miki in the lane as he sprinted home in 26 2/5 on the way to his seventh victory of the year. Ken Hanover was second followed by Coaches Corner and Captain Albano.

Maximus Miki is owned by John Cancelliere and trained by Tom Cancelliere. The 6-year-old son of Always B Miki-Beach Gal was bred by Sergent Stables. For his career, Maximus Miki has won 28 of 63 races and earned more than $1 million.

"It had nothing to do with me, it all had to do with Tommy," John Cancelliere said. "He said all along that I was going to love this horse, and I actually love him. I knew that Tommy and his crew would have him ready to go, and I knew that Scotty Z would be more than ready to go."

Maximus Miki has won five graded stakes this season, with triumphs in the Canadian Pacing Derby (G1), Hoosier Park Pacing Derby (G2), a division of the William R. Haughton Memorial (G2) and Potomac Pace (G3) joining the FanDuel. He has banked more than $760,000 this year.

When asked where he thought Maximus Miki stacked up in the race for Dan Patch Award divisional honors, John Cancelliere said, "That's up to other people, that's not up to me. In my book, he's top dog. I had ($2.7-million-earner) Bettor Sweet, and he was beautiful, and this guy rates right up there with him. We can only hope for the best."

Sent off at odds of 5-1, Maximus Miki paid $12.40 to win.

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Following the race, 2024 Dan Patch Award-winner Abuckabett Hanover, who was fifth in the FanDuel Open Pace Championship, was honored as he heads to retirement. "Bucky" won 24 of 91 career races and earned more than $2.1 million in his career for owners Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harris, who also trained the horse.

"It's a little tough," Pollock said. "He's the first horse I ever owned with Andrew and Bruce, and he races his heart out and gives you everything he's got. He really was great last year. It's always sad when one of your first ones is gone and you're not going to really see him again. He's [going to stand as a stallion at Tara Hills Stud] in Canada, so I'm not going to see him. But he worked hard and gave us everything he could."

In the FanDuel Open Trot Championship, Aetos Kronos S got the field to the opening quarter in 27 1/5, but Lexus Kody and Gingras took control from there, reaching the half in 55 2/5 and three-quarters in 1:23 3/5 on their way to the comfortable victory. Logan Park and Up Your Deo followed Periculum behind Lexus Kody.

The triumph was Lexus Kody's 11th in 21 races this season, and seventh in eight starts since early August. His only setback during that span came in the Breeders Crown final on Oct. 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he was third.

"That's an incredible mile tonight," winning trainer Ron Burke said. "That's [1]:48 in the summer. That's as good as he's been all year. We were a little bit disappointed in the Breeders Crown; he got a tough trip, but I thought he could have been better. [Tonight] is the horse he's been the last three months, so I was very happy with him."

Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and Phil Collura own Lexus Kody, who pushed his seasonal earnings to more than $1.3 million with his FanDuel win. The 7-year-old son of Archangel-Lexus Helios was bred by Norm Dunstan.

For his career, Lexus Kody has won 37 of 90 races and $1.9 million. Other victories this season include the MGM Yonkers International Trot (G1) and Maple Leaf Trot (G1).

Lexus Kody, the 2-1 second choice behind even-money favorite Periculum, paid $6.60 to win.