Red Mile: Atlanta makes pocket trip pay off in Allerage

Atlanta turned in a successful defense of her title in the $57,000 Allerage Farms Fillies & Mares Open Trot on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile, prevailing over a small but talented field in 1:50 3/5.

After leaving from the pole position, driver Yannick Gingras put Atlanta in the pocket behind Next Level Stuff (Tim Tetrick), who carved out quick fractions of 27 2/5, 54 2/5, and 1:22 1/5. When Dovescry (David Miller) moved off the pylons out of third going to three-quarters, and Gingras would slide Atlanta out from the two-hole in front of him beyond that marker.

Next Level Stuff would give way to Atlanta in mid-stretch, and although When Dovescry gained to the wire, it wasn't enough, as Atlanta held sway by a length. Sorella (Todd McCarthy) tracked When Dovescry and got up for third, followed by Next Level Stuff and Weslynn Quest (Joe Bongiorno).

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"Like I said in Delaware [Ohio after she won the Miss Versatility Series final], all these wins, it's just one more trophy on her mantle. It's special," said Gingras. "She's a great mare. She's one of the greatest in history, and it's been a pleasure to drive her. She's been at the top for so many years. Week-in and week-out she comes to battle, and she comes out on top way more than she loses.

"When I first started driving her at 4 she didn't have much of an ass. She was a little more on the narrow side, but now she's like building muscle. She's got some strength behind, and that's what makes her so special."

A 7-year-old Chapter Seven mare, Atlanta is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant, and Howard Taylor. This was her 36th career triumph, and she has now banked $3,440,718. She paid $4.96 to win as the second choice.