Washington, PA — Blocked by a wall of horses, Rising MVP swung well wide in the lane and roared home to pull off an 8-1 upset in Thursday’s (April 29) feature at The Meadows, a $12,100 conditioned trot.

Rising MVP negotiated stretch traffic to just reach in Thursday’s featured trot at The Meadows. Chris Gooden photo.

Once Aaron Merriman showed Rising MVP racetrack, he still had to deal with the challenge of Mystical Peter, who knifed inside and found a clear path in the Lighting Lane. Rising MVP edged Mystical Peter by a nose in 1:56.1 over a sloppy surface, with Mind Yown Business third.

Bill Daugherty Jr. trains the winner, a 6-year-old My MVP-Nutmegs Winner gelding who pushed his career bankroll to $310,073, for Susan Daugherty.

Tony Hall, Dave Palone and Dan Rawlings each collected a pair of victories on the 13-race card.

Live racing at The Meadows continues Friday (April 30), when the 13-race card offers an $8,385.17 carryover in the final-race Super Hi-5. Because Friday is the last day of the current meeting, the Super Hi-5, the Pick-5, the late Pick-4 and the final superfecta of the card will feature mandatory payouts.