Meadowlands: Rattle My Cage romps in Graduate Series final for male trotters

Rattle My Cage got to the front easily and put the field to sleep in the opening half for driver Yannick Gingras on his way to victory in Saturday's $250,000 Graduate Series Final for 4-year-old male trotters. The son of Love You from the Ake Svanstedt stable trotted smoothly and strongly to an easy score in 1:51 flat.

Rattle My Cage saw Take All Comers leave inside of him and a host look to fire out outside of him, but once Take All Comers settled on the lead into the first turn, it was just Gingras and Rattle My Cage pointing towards the front, with the outside flank taking an early rest for next week's Hambletonian Maturity perhaps. Fractions of 27 3/5, 56 2/5 and 1:24 1/5 were the set up for Rattle My Cage, as only Ahundreddollarbill offered a slow grind on the outside that never saw him get close to the winner.

Rattle My Cage and Gingras shook off Take All Comers easily, but that Tim Tetrick-guided gelding managed to hold his ground well for second in the 26 4/5 final quarter sprint. Scott Zeron weaved through traffic late to get the show with Ambassador Hanover, with Svanstedt and Delayed Hanover fourth across the wire, giving the conditioner three of the top four spots in the rich contest.

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"Obviously they had respect for him," said Gingras smiling after the victory. He's got another big race next week, so I didn't want to go more than I had to."

Rattle My Cage is owned by Perry Soderberg and was a winner for the fourth time in five starts this year. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Rattle My Cage returned $3.40 to win.