Meadowlands: Ready For Moni rallies to Graduate Trot title

Action was hot and heavy at the start of the $250,000 Graduate Series final for 4-year-old open trotters at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. When the dust settled in the late stages, it was Ready For Moni and driver Tim Tetrick overtaking a brave Hypnotic AM and the pace-setter It's Academic to a take 1:50 3/5 victory over a rain-soaked track listed as sloppy.

It's Academic and Yannick Gingras left strongly but had plenty of company as Play Trix On Me, Hypnotic AM, Ready For Moni, and Amigo Volo all vied for the early lead. Dexter Dunn and Amigo Volo spent much of the quarter wide but secured the lead past the 26 4/5 opening panel from Play Trix On Me. It's Academic then moved once again from third to gain the front and was in control through a 55 1/5 opening half.

With few in the front part of the field willing to move, Brian Sears took the lone mare in the field, Hypnotic AM, on a protracted first-over drive, towing Ready For Moni and favorite Beads into contention. At three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, Hypnotic AM turned up the pressure on It's Academic, with Ready For Moni perfectly positioned and Tetrick waiting to pull the trigger. Beads was unable to stay with cover, allowing Gangster Hanover off the pylons late on the final turn.

While It's Academic and Hypnotic AM were locked in battle in the stretch, Ready For Moni tipped wide and exploded off his cover to win convincingly in a career-best clocking despite the sloppy track. Hypnotic AM gamely took down the second spot, with It's Academic settling for third.

“It was perfect. I had a good trip and good cover to follow all the way to the stretch,” said Tetrick following the victory.

Ready For Moni is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut, John Fielding, Herb Liverman, and Bud Hatfield. Sent off at 6-1, Ready For Moni returned $15.40 to win. Ready For Moni, the runner-up in last year's Hambletonian, was a winner for the second time in four starts as a 4-year-old and became a millionaire with the Graduate victory.