The Meadows: Homicide Hunter uses passing lane to grab Meadows Maturity

Homicide Hunter used the "Lightning Lane" at The Meadows to down Chris Beaver stablemates Il Sogno Dream and Muscle Up The Goal in the $54,000 Meadows Maturity for older male trotters on Saturday afternoon.

Driven by Dave Palone, Homicide Hunter tracked right behind Muscle Up The Goal (Aaron Merriman) through panels of 27 1/5, 55 4/5, and 1:23 3/5. Il Sogno Dream (Dan Rawlings) sat third, then came first-over just before three-quarters.

In the stretch, Palone guided Homicide Hunter into the passing lane, and he would trot by both Muscle Up The Goal and Il Sogno Dream on his way to winning by about two lengths in 1:51 4/5. Il Sogno Dream checked in second, and Muscle Up The Goal had to settle for third.

Chris Oakes trains Homicide Hunter, a 4-year-old gelding by Mr. Cantab, for owners Albert and Michelle Crawford. This was his 20th victory from 33 career starts, and he has now earned $609,513. Sent off at 2-1, Homicide Hunter paid $6.20 to win.“

Chris said, ‘Before you do anything, you better watch the replay of last week,’” Palone said. “He was super last week (fifth in the Charlie Hill at Scioto Downs) and finished up real strong. Chris thought if I got him into the race, he was the best horse, and he was.”

“It’s tough to get enough momentum, especially with a trotter, and he was running out a little bit,” Palone said. “I had to kind of stuff him in there and make him go at the same time. He finished up very strong.”

--quotes courtesy of The Meadows--