Washington, PA – Stephen “You’re Never Too” Oldford and A Royal Line proved that you’re never too far back-ford, either, as they made up five lengths in the stretch and pulled off a 77-1 shocker in Saturday’s (Aug. 12) $10,000 leg of the Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) amateur trot at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

Steve Oldford was a 77-1 winner with A Royal Line in a GLADA race at The Meadows Friday. Chris Gooden Photo.

Tom “Mayhem” Svrcek (Just Like Magic) cut the fractions and appeared to have an insurmountable lead. But when Oldford angled A Royal Line off the cones out of the final turn, the 7-year-old Royalty For Life-Direct Dial gelding responded willingly. He downed Svrcek by a head in 1:57.1, with Nikki “Barista” Harvey (Never Say Uncle) and Joelene “The Jewel” Christman (Forever Jesse) completing the ticket.

Oldford credited the victory to advice he got from Scott Zeron, who won this year’s Hambletonian with Tactical Approach at 12-1 by brushing inside through the lane. Zeron was at The Meadows Saturday for sires stake racing. Noted Oldford:

“When he saw my odds, Scottie said, ‘Just sit, sit, sit. It treated me well.’ I said, ‘I know. I’ve watched your win about 10 times, so that’s what we’ll do.’ I didn’t think I had any shot. I thought, okay, we’ll finish this race up, get a check, and we’ll call it a day. But the guys in the front beat the daylights out of each other, just like with Scottie in the Hambo.”

Terry Deters trains A Royal Line, who now boasts a career bankroll of $170,437, for Oldford Racing, LLC.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday (Aug. 16), first post 12:45 p.m.