Meadowlands: Voukefalas triumphant in Graduate Series final for pacers

Jordan Stratton authored a perfect steer and Voukefalas rose to the occasion to capture Saturday's $230,000 Graduate Series final for 4-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands as an 8-1 offering in a personal-best 1:47 3/5 mile clocking.

Stratton had designs on leaving the gate with the Michael Russo-trained Voukefalas, but he allowed two horses outside of him to clear instead as No Control, with Jody Jamieson, blasted to the front early on the first turn, followed by favored Ken Hanover and David Miller. It wasn't until Ken Hanover had cleared that Stratton put Voukefalas in motion on the outside and blitzed the leader past the 26 3/5 opening quarter.

Stratton finally saw the top with Voukefalas about three-eighths into the mile and was more than willing to secure the pocket when Miller re-moved with Ken Hanover to the front before the half. Second choice Huntinthelastdolar and Yannick Gingras went on the attack in the third quarter, followed by Redwood Hanover and Seafire in the outer flow, but Miller kept Ken Hanover engaged and didn’t see eye-to-eye pressure, hitting three-quarters in 1:21 2/5 and looking comfortable.

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The favorite had company rather quickly, though, as Stratton popped-the-deuce in early stretch and saw Voukefalas take off and quickly move to the front. No Control angled out as well, but his late speed would only garner the second spot, with Act Fast knifing between horses to finish third.

"It's been a lifelong dream of mine to win a Grand Circuit race at the Meadowlands," said Stratton following the major victory.

A homebred of owner Michael Pagonas, Voukefalas, a son of Lazarus, was a winner for the fourth time this year in nine tries and returned $18.40 to win.

"I was super-confident coming into the race," said Russo of his horse.