Meadowlands: Nevis Peak pounces in Goldsmith Maid

Regally-bred Nevis Peak procured a pocket trip and pounced to snag the $386,830 Grade 1 Goldsmith Maid for 2-year-old trotting fillies in a 1:53 1/5 mile on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Leaving from post seven, driver Yannick Gingras sent Nevis Peak towards the top with 115-1 shot Rio De Janeiro launching from the outermost draw towards the lead. Gingras looped around Rio De Janeiro after a 28 second first quarter and then yielded command in the backstretch once favorite Kountry Plunge tipped out of third to brush forward.

Kountry Plunge planted onto the point passing a 56 3/5 half and strolled through the last turn to three-quarters in 1:24.4 as Two Day Hangover carried stablemates Birr Castle and Athena's Girl up the rim. Two Day Hangover retreated rounding for home, giving Nevis Peak clearance to swing outside for an attack. Nevis Peak overhauled Kountry Plunge in the lane for a 2 1/4 length win while Kindergarten champ HL Kapara rallied widest down the track for third and Birr Castle closed for fourth.

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"She started out the year so awesome I was actually looking forward to the Hambletonian next year," co-owner Larry Karr said in the winner’s circle. "She hit a few speed bumps along the way and bled a little bit, but they took their time with her getting her back. She raced great in the Mohawk Million, was unbelievable in the Breeders Crown and I'm so happy she got a marquee win tonight."

Nevis Peak, a daughter of Walner out of 2020 Hambletonian winner Ramona Hill, competes for owners Burke Racing Stable, Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Larry Karr. Burke trains the winner of three races from nine starts with $507,124 in the bank. She paid $8.40 to win.