by Adam Packard, for the Meadows

Meadow Lands, PA — Hope’s Victory, a five-year-old trotting stallion, got back on the winning path in Tuesday’s (September 6) $9,400 Preferred Trot at The Meadows.

Chris Gooden Photo

Hope’s Victory and driver Dave Palone won comfortably in 1:54.3.

After not winning in consecutive weeks for only the second time all year, the son of S J’s Photo proved he still has it, despite all the attention towards the favored Columbus Hanover.

Last week Hope’s Victory went off-stride as the favorite in his Meadows return from Pocono Downs and left his backers with empty pockets. For those who still supported the now eight-time winner in 2005, the wait was worth it, as Hope’s Victory paid $6.20 to win, the most he has paid to win all year.

He didn’t just win either — he broke his own track record for older trotting stallions. He set the old record of 1:54.4 on May 5, but the mark would stand no longer as he won by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:54.3 on Tuesday night to set the new mark. Columbus Hanover and Doug Snyder raced well but couldn’t catch Hope’s Victory and had to settle for second. Cello Hanover and Anduril Hanover finished in a dead heat for third.

With Dave Palone in the bike, Hope’s Victory set fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:26.2 and came home in :28.1 to set the new record.

Daniel Vorum owns for trainer John Sokol. Hope’s Victory has now won 30 of his 68 lifetime starts and has collected $185,223 in purses.