Red Mile: Maverick scores in career debut

Maverick, who became the first Standardbred yearling at public auction to sell for seven figures after bringing $1.1 million at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, broke his maiden in his pari-mutuel debut on Monday afternoon at The Red Mile.

Driver Joe Bongiorno settled Maverick into third from post two and was in that position at the 29 2/5 opening quarter, then moved him to the lead after they got the first turn out of the way. Maverick would click off a 58 3/5 half and a 1:28 4/5 three-quarters, and a 28 3/5 final kicker got him to the wire a length and a half to the good over Tangled Love (Trace Tetrick) in a 1:57 2/5 performance. Immigrant AM (Mattias Melander) was third in the race.

Tony Alagna trains Maverick, a full brother (Father Patrick-Designed To Be) to 2019's Trotter of the Year Greenshoe, for owner Maverick Racing. Bred by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, Maverick qualified four times in New Jersey prior to today's event, winning his last baby race at the Meadowlands on July 31. He was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.80 to win.