By Evan Pattak For The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association “Horsemen Helping Horsemen”
“Soarin’” Lauren Harmon and Rattling Pine confidently retook the lead near the half and held off the late charge of the x-5 favorite, Stephen “You’re Never Too” Oldford (Chin Chin Hall) to capture Friday’s $10,000 leg of the Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association (GLADA) Trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. It’s the second meadows GLADA victory in the last month for the team of Harmon and Rattling Pine.
Harmon outdueled “Dirty” Dirk Simpson (Major’s Song) for the early lead but temporarily released Michael Burke (Headoverboots As). Not for long, though, as Harmon authoritatively reclaimed the point and had plenty left to turn back Oldford, defeating him by 1-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:53.4. Tom “Mayhem” Svrcek (Troycen) and Simpson rounded out the ticket.
Brandon Presto trains Rattling Pine, an 8-year-old Dejarmbro-Pinery gelding who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $225,928, for Rocco Stebbins.