‘KODY’ AGAIN THE COMMANDER IN BIG M FEATURE

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- May 30, 2025 -- Even at the age of 7, the talented Lexus Kody continues to evolve, and the Ron Burke trainee kept the good times going Friday night at The Meadowlands in the $27,500 featured Open Handicap for trotters, taking a second straight weekly marquee event.

“He’s actually behaving right now,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras of the horse who has a bit of a breaking problem. “Right now, he’s two fingers to drive. He’s a beauty to drive when he’s like this.”

For a six-horse field, there was plenty of talent to go around, and $1-million lifetime earner Ari Ferrari J was on the go early from post five, moving four-wide into the first turn before securing the top and hitting the quarter in :26.4.

Shortly thereafter, Lexus Kody marched up to the top and led at the half in :55.3. Outside The Fire, a late-closing second to ‘Kody’ last week, was now on the outside making up ground and challenged the leader at three-quarters, which was timed in 1:24.1.

But, as usual, Lexus Kody would prove tough to pass when on the point.

The gelded son of Archangel-Lexus Helios would hold sway to the wire, as a determined Outside The Fire kept up alongside preventing Ari Ferrari J from getting enough room while loaded with trot to reach the eventual winner, coming up three-quarters-of-a-length short after finally finding space. Outside The Fire was third.

“He had plenty more [nearing the wire],” said Gingras. “Down the stretch I knew Brett [Beckwith, driving Ari Ferrari J] had some trot behind me. I didn’t want to let him out.

“Early last year, [Lexus Kody] was misbehaving. Then, he was good for a long time but then maybe got a little tired at the end of the year. Now, he’s not doing anything wrong. He has big lungs and can go fast a long, long time.”

After completing the mile in 1:50.3, Lexus Kody’s numbers stood at 29 wins from 77 career starts, good for earnings of $679,422 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Phillip Collura. He paid $3 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

A LITTLE MORE: All Too Well took the fifth race at odds of 12-1, giving big smiles to those who cashed in for $12,194 with winning 20-cent Pick-5 tickets. Winner’s odds for the first four legs of the sequence were 3-5, 9-1, 5-1 and 4-5. … There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $5,085. Those with five correct collected $48.82. Players should take note that with 12 races scheduled for the Saturday program, the Pick-6 will begin with the seventh race. … All-source handle totaled $2,828,948 on the 14-race program. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.