Lazarus son upsets in $230,000 Graduate Pace Final

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A crafty speed steer from Jordan Stratton perched Voukefalas (Lazarus N) in a pocket spot, from which he pounced to the lead and then lasted to the end of a 1:47.3 harness racing mile to win the $230,000 Graduate Pace at The Meadowlands on Saturday night (July 6).

Starting from post 6, Stratton floated off the wings with Voukefalas while a three-pronged charge barreled for the first turn. Ken Hanover, the 2-1 favorite, grabbed the point out of post 9 in the :26.3 sprint to the first quarter with No Control on his back. But Stratton had Voukefalas rolling on the rim through the turn and promptly planted himself on a brief lead entering the backstretch.

Once pocketed, Ken Hanover pulled off the pylons and retook control moving for a :54 half. All the while the backfield awaited someone to pull first over, and eventually Huntinthelastdolar made the move out of fourth and began a moderate advance through three-quarters in 1:21.2. Huntinthelastdolar’s bid was brief and he stalled on the turn for home, which gave Stratton clearance to angle outside with Voukefalas and send him into top gear.

Voukefalas vaulted past Ken Hanover in the stretch and stayed strong as his competition closed in late stretch to notch the win by three-quarter lengths over No Control, who tipped to the center of the track and rallied for second. Act Fast came from near last for third and Sea Fire rallied off cover for fourth.

“He’s been really good these last couple of weeks going forward and charging at the wire,” winning driver Jordan Stratton said after the race. He’s really come back good as a 4-year-old and it helps racing 4-year-olds. The horse is a dream come true. He shows up every week. It’s been a lifelong dream to win a Grand Circuit race at The Meadowlands and tonight feels great. All the credit goes to the connections and the ownership.

“I was super confident in this whole series with him,” trainer Michael Russo said. “In his last two starts here, I thought he was the best each time. He didn’t get a clean trip either time. Going in I thought I could win, I thought I should win, but obviously I thought Ken Hanover was the best when the series started.”

Voukefalas, a 4-year-old stallion out of the Cams Fortune mare Inittowinafortune, notched his fourth win on the season and his 11^th victory from 28 starts. He’s now banked $813,244 for owner-breeder Michael Pagonas and paid $18.40 to win in his mild upset.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands

Winner’s Bet (Walner) flew uncovered into a sizzling three-quarters to seize the lead and win the $230,000 Graduate Trot final.

Dexter Dunn steered the Walner 4-year-old to a winning mile in 1:50.4. It was Winner’s Bet’s third-straight win of the 2024 season and it was Dexter Dunn’s second-straight winning drive in the Graduate Trot Final, winning last year with the mare Jiggy Jog S against the boys.

The gate opened with 17-1 shot Oh Well’s ambitious move from post 8. He rolled three wide on the first turn trying to get the lead while Winner’s Bet took back to race fifth. The first quarter was clocked in :27.3 with Oh Well slugging to the lead. Hasty Bid secured the spot behind the leader and Chapercraz was shuffled to third as Oh Well trotted to the half in :55.3 with no foes yet looming.

Staying steady from fifth, Dunn soon fired with Winner’s Bet to challenge Oh Well into the final turn and was within striking distance by three-quarters in 1:23.3. Winner’s Bet took over the lead from Oh Well in the stretch and then fended off late haste from second-over Special Way in deep stretch to win by a nose at the beam. Chapercraz closed late to take third and Oh Well held fourth.

Nancy Takter trains Winner’s Bet, out of the Donato Hanover mare Side Bet Hanover. He is now a nine-time winner and lifetime earner of $737,217 in 23 starts. Lindy Farms of Connecticut owns Winner’s Bet with Robert A. Rudolph.

The win mutuel for the overwhelming favorite, Winner’s Bet, was $2.40.

To read about the night’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations and watch the replays, click here.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands