from Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Slave Dream got up in the final strides to take the $46,500 Hiram Woodruff final Thursday night at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Slave Dream prevailed by a nose ahead of John Paul’s Legacy in the final strides to take the $46,500 Hiram Woodruff final Thursday night at the Meadowlands.

Driver John Campbell and Slave Dream [$4.20 $3.20 $2.80] got away fourth out of the gate, followed John Paul’s Legacy [$5.40 $3.60] up the backstretch and were parked without cover around the far turn. The two began dueling stride for stride down the stretch with Slave Dream prevailing just a nose ahead in 1:53.2. Captain Primeau [$7.60] finished third.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to get there, the other horse [John Paul’s Legacy] was racing really well,” Campbell said of the mile. “This horse has raced tough the last few weeks and there’s no quit in him. If you could get him a little easier trip I’m sure he’ll trot faster; the last two times he’s had to come from first-over. If he gets in with tougher horses and follows cover I think he’ll give a good account of himself.”

The son of Pearsall Hanover-Hunarie F has now won 7 of 10 starts this year for trainer Pierre Couture, with the last three wins in the Hiram Woodruff Series. Slave Dream increased his lifetime earnings to $203,009 for owners Franco Cianci and Isidoro Russo.