Pocono: Photo finish goes For Once Inmy Life's way in Always B Miki Free-For-All Pace

For Once Inmy Life and driver Jordan Stratton used a late burst in the stretch to win Saturday's (Aug. 22) $100,000 Grade 3 Always B Miki Free-For-All, for older pacers, by a nose over Surreal Ideal and half-length over pace-setting favorite Dandy Ideal in 1:48 4/5 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.

Sent off at odds of 18-1, For Once Inmy Life settled behind Dandy Ideal as the 1-5 betting choice set fractions of 26 4/5 to the opening quarter, 55 2/5 to the half, and 1:22 1/5 to three-quarters. Entering the stretch, Stratton moved For Once Inmy Life to the inside and was able to wear down Dandy Ideal but still had to fend off a rally from Surreal Ideal, even farther inside, to secure the victory.

"Kudos to (Surreal Ideal) because my horse is very fast off a helmet, and he was getting by me, but the wire came at the right time," Stratton said.

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The win was the ninth in 20 starts this season for the 6-year-old son of Downbytheseaside-Flyme To The Moon, and the most lucrative triumph of his career. Lifetime, For Once Inmy Life has won 23 of 74 starts and earned $699,773. Bred by Joe Sbrocco, the gelding is owned by Winters Racing Stable.

"He's been knocking on the door the last couple of weeks," said Stratton, who drove For Once Inmy Life for his brother, trainer Cory Stratton. "He just missed at the Meadowlands in his last start there (in a division of the Sam McKee Memorial on Aug. 8) and he got a good trip tonight and he was really good.

"He's been a good horse his whole life. He got really sharp at the Meadowlands a couple winters ago and they finally gave him a chance against the tougher horses on the Grand Circuit, and I'm glad that he finally got a win. Thanks to my brother and his wife Vicki, they do a great job. I'm really a big family guy, and it's a little extra spot in my heart (to share it with them)."

For Once Inmy Life paid $39.80 to win.