Alexie Mattosie took the lead in the stretch and captured the $523,000 William R. Haughton Memorial by a half-length over Foiled Again at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.
Driven by George Brennan, Alexie Mattosie paced for mile in a lifetime best of 1:48 1/5 in winning for the seventh time in 21 starts this year. The Nikolas Drennan-trained gelding returned $18.40, $7.20 and $4.40 in winning the free-for-all pace.
It was the second straight win for Brennan in the Haughton. He won last year with Shark Gesture.
Foiled Again paid $7 and $4.80 in getting up for second, while Won The West was $4.80 to show.
Alexie Mattosie was very game in winning. The gelding challenged pacesetter Aracache Hanover and driver Doug McNair on the outside on the backstretch and Brennan wasn't able to get him to the lead until the final sixteenth of a mile.
"We rolled along pretty good," Brennan said. "On the turn I knew I was going to go by Doug. I had We Will See on my back and he headed me and I was just hoping to be second. But he dug in right to the wire. It was an incredible effort, incredible."
Earlier on the card, Pirouette Hanover ($9.20) captured the $363,900 Sweetheart for 2-year-old pacing fillies and Major Bombay ($12.20) won the $317,800 Woodrow Wilson for 2-year-old colts and geldings.,
Pirouette Hanover gave up the lead early in the stretch and then rallied gamely to edge the previously undefeated Handsoffmycookie by a head in the Sweatheart. Ron Pierce guided the daughter of Western Ideal over the mile in 1:51 3/5 in winning for the third time in six starts for trainer Ed Hart.
"Post 10 can be very rough," Hart said. "Ronnie drove her to perfection again. He's done a great job and this is really, really super filly."
Driver Brian Sears angled Major Bombay to the outside in the stretch and then came on strongly to post a three-quarter length victory over Simply Business in the Wilson.
"I knew he had some good kick late if I got lucky enough to get some room," Sears said. "He's all racehorse and (trainer) Tony (Alagna) did a good job with him."
