from Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — Bob’s Alibi took the longest route to victory in the $72,100 Senior Trendsetter on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Bob’s Alibi held off the late rally of Isaac Newton for a neck victory in 1:51.4.

Driver Brian Sears slowly inched Bob’s Alibi into contention along the outside as Asbury Juke and Yannick Gingras carved the early fractions. Bob’s Alibi easily passed the tiring leader at the head of the stretch and held off the late rally of Isaac Newton for a neck victory in 1:51.4. It was 2 lengths back to Rock Hard Ten, who drafted behind the runner-up. The favorite, Free De Vie, was caught wide in traffic and never factored into the race. Bob’s Alibi paid $15.60.

“I followed Pat [Berry and the favorite Free De Vie] last week and was not able to get by him.” Sears said. “I thought I would go forward off the gate and just play it by ear. I didn’t have any real plan mapped out. This horse has gone a few big trips first-over. Recently, he hasn’t been quite as sharp as I thought he had been, but he put in a big effort today. The fractions weren’t really pressing up front, so I knew I had to make up some serious ground to be right there. I was just riding up first-over. It looked like Yannick [Gingras and Asbury Juke] wasn’t real strong at the three-quarter pole, so I rode up there as slow as I could and the horse raced super, dug all the way to the wire. I was just able to hold [Isaac Newton] off.”

Bob’s Alibi, trained by Mickey Burke, improved his record to 13 wins in 44 career starts. Burke’s wife, Sylvia, shares ownership of the Indiana-bred with Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.