East Rutherford, NJ – Dexter Dunn drove Bourbonista S to the fastest trotting mile by an aged mare at The Meadowlands in winning the $129,400 Grade 3 Six Pack Open Trot on Saturday (July 4), a night that also saw Lexus Kody equal a track record with his win in the $131,250 Grade 3 JL Cruze.
Bourbonista S pushed for the lead and cleared control from Miracle Maven passing a :27.2 first quarter. Bravo Angel S, among the early firers, floated to the middle of the pack out of post 8 and marched forward when parked to grab the lead from Bourbonista S before scorching the clock in :53.4.
Bravo Angel S cruised on the lead rounding the final turn while Bourbonista S loomed from the pocket past a blistering 1:21.4 three-quarters. Bourbonista S surged to the top to power home snugly by 3-1/4 lengths and clock a finish in 1:48.4, eclipsing the previous track record for aged trotting mares of 1:49.2 set in 2024 by Jiggy Jog S. Warrawee Michelle closed late for second and longshot R Dutchess finished third.
“She’s developed mentally, too. She’s in a good spot right now,” trainer Marcus Melander said after the race. “Since we pulled the shoes two starts back here in the mud, she’s been getting better and better. She was racing barefoot in Sweden a couple of times even when she was third behind Allegiant, who won the Elitlopp. So it’s not a surprise that she was, I mean, maybe this good, but she’s a year older now and she’s just getting better and better.”
Bourbonista S, the 5-year-old Face Time Bourbon-Affinity Kronos mare, has now made $250,878 and won eight times from 28 starts, for owners Deo Volente Farms LLC and Panamera Racing. She paid $7.80 to win.
Earlier in the card, Lexus Kody and Yannick Gingras controlled the $131,250 Grade 3 JL Cruze Open Trot at The Meadowlands with a track-record equaling 1:49.4 win.
The 2025 Trotter of the Year trained by Ron Burke was sent off the strong favorite in the seven-horse field, taking the lead from the early speed of Sir Pinocchio with Aetos Kronos S sitting third and Osceola next as driver Yannick Gingras brought the 8-year-old son of Archangel to the first panel in :27.4. Lexus Kody led the field to the half in :55 as action soon brewed from off the speed with Up Your Deo making an outside move to be the main challenger for the leader. Through three-quarters in 1:23, Up Your Deo confronted Lexus Kody in a hard drive down the stretch, but Lexus Kody was best at the wire by a neck. Aetos Kronos S landed the show spot.
“Last time [at Mohawk] we weren’t quite sure where he was at – figured he needed some racing,” Yannick Gingras said after the race. “I was happily surprised; he was really, really good, then tonight I was definitely expecting it. I think he’s back on his game and that’s when he got sharp last year. He’s game no matter which way; he doesn’t need a trip. He’s just a class horse. Down the stretch, Ake’s horse wouldn’t go away and it was definitely a good battle to the wire. Four or five pylons to go, I knew I had him beat then, but it took a battle.”
Lexus Kody, who matched the track record for aged trotting geldings that he established on Hambletonian Day in 2024, is owned by Burke Racing Stables, Weaver Bruscemi and Phil Collura. He won for the second time this season from four starts and for the 39th time from 94 starts, earning $2,018,433. He paid $2.60 to win.