by Evan Pattak, for The Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Atochia enjoyed perfect escort service from Biletnikoff, then blazed by that rival in the lane on Monday (August 10) to capture the $27,500 Preferred Handicap in 1:49.1, second-fastest mile ever paced at The Meadows. Only 3-year-old sensation Well Said paced faster when he won his Adios elimination in 1:49.

Split times for the mile, which also established a track record for 4-year-old gelding pacers, were :26.1, :55, 1:21.4, and 1:49.1. The game Biletnikoff was beaten only a neck, with War Boots a closing third. It was an especially tough loss for War Boots, since it was his track record of 1:49.4 that Atochia erased.

Dave Palone drove Atochia for trainer Ron Burke and the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables and M1 Stable. The gelded son of Dragon Again-Hot Shot Michelle pushed his career bankroll to $425,918.

Brett Miller drove four winners on the 16-race card while Kevin McDermott fashioned a training triple.