Park Avenue Joe Declared Winner of Hambletonian After Dead Heat
Probe, winner of the first heat, and Park Avenue Joe, winner of the second, raced to the first dead heat in a Hambletonian race-off Saturday at the Meadowlands.
Park Avenue Joe, however, was declared the winner because he finished second in the first heat. Probe broke stride and finished ninth in the second heat.
Park Avenue Joe is trained by Chuck Sylvester, who also won the Hambletonian in 1987 with Mack Lobell.
Park Avenue Joe won $565,500 from a purse of $1,131,000. Probe won $282,750.
Park Avenue Joe led throughout the race-off but, nearing the wire, Probe appeared to have a slight lead. Stewards called for two prints of the photo finish and deliberated for several minutes before declaring the race for 3-year-old trotters a dead heat.
The time for the one-mile race-off was 2:00 2/5. The last quarter was trotted in a fast :26 3/5.
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