Meadowlands: Winter Soldier scores in Valley Victory elimination

A single $20,000 Valley Victory elimination for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters went behind the gate on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, with Winter Soldier grabbing the win in 1:55 flat.

Wild Ticket (Brian Sears) showed the way at the 28 2/5 quarter but was third by the time the 57 2/5 half was reached as he was looped first by Winter Soldier (Andy McCarthy) and then Flying Kronos S (Dexter Dunn). Flying Kronos S would go on to hit three-quarters in 1:26 3/5 and brought the field into the lane, but McCarthy swung Winter Soldier to his outside, and thanks to a 28 1/5 final quarter, he would prevail by a length over a closing Daiquiri Hanover (Ake Svanstedt).

Also joining Kindergarten Series champion Karl and bye-taker Security Protected in next Saturday night's final were Waterfall (Todd McCarthy), Flying Kronos S, Victor Laszlo (Mark MacDonald), Bright Star (Scott Zeron), Nottingham (Marcus Miller) and Wild Ticket.

"He had a good experience tonight. He's a rambunctious colt. You've got to be a little careful in the post parade and everything like that," Andy McCarthy remarked. "It was kind of an extended post parade with the fox being on the track and everything like that. We kind of taught him to pony and he was happy enough doing that, so he was nice and quiet and raced good.

"The trip kind of just worked out. I got to move and the fractions weren't going to be a lot. He's come a long way this colt. He started out the year really good, but just getting tripped out all the time. Then he had a couple of unfortunate experiences, but I think he's going to be a hell of a 3-year-old once he figures it all out. He can go."

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Tony Alagna trains Winter Soldier, a Face Time Bourbon colt bred by Order By Stable, for owners Peter Alagna and Pryde Stables Inc. A $140,000 buy at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Winter Soldier has a record of 5-2-2 from 11 outings, has pocketed $97,635 and returned $6.80 to win as the 2-1 second choice.