EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – One week after tasting defeat despite receiving what was a perfect second-over trip as the 2-5 favorite, High Speed Swan (Swan For All) had much to prove Friday night at The Meadowlands in the featured $25,000 high-end harness racing winners-over trot, and prove much he did, scoring in remarkably determined fashion in a lifetime-best 1:52.3.

“He grabbed the right line pretty good in the stretch last week,” said winning driver Colin Kelly. “It was a bad drive by me; I gave up my spot.”

While Kelly was a little tough on himself, there was no doubt he was going to try things differently this time around.

The action was hot at the start, as High Speed Swan was away quickly from the rail while Finite, a hard-luck loser last week, was first over, and Bestfriend Volo was stacked up at the quarter three-wide with a narrow edge as he reached that beam in :27.1.

Bestfriend Volo was on the lead at the half in a taxing :54.4 with Finite in the pocket. Kelly went into attack mode with High Speed Swan, vacating the three-hole and moving quickly to the top as 3-5 favorite Super Duper Cooper was now a menacing presence alongside as three-quarters went in 1:23.3.

It looked like Super Duper Cooper had things under control, but High Speed Swan wasn’t having any of it.

The duo were on even terms shortly after straightening away in the lane, and High Speed Swan, displaying grit and determination, found more with just over a sixteenth-of-a-mile to go and went on to record a three-quarter-length victory over the favorite.

HIGH SPEED SWAN REPLAY

Aquarius Face S was third.

“He’s such a high-speed horse,” said Kelly of ‘Swan’. “He’s such fun to drive.

“I released Finite pretty cheap last week (when Finite was a superb second), and we got back to the lead pretty easy tonight. I wasn’t sure I was going to hold on. Super Duper Cooper is an awesome horse. My horse went a tough trip, and I hope he’s just as good again next week.”

Trained by Doug Dilloian Jr., High Speed Swan returned $7.20 to his backers as the 5-2 second choice in the wagering. Owned by David Linker, Brian Loman and Robert Venable, the 4-year-old gelding by Swan For All-Aunt Susie has now won seven of 34 lifetime outings, good for earnings of $168,615.

GREAT PICK-8: Two shrewd players took down some big green by having the only winning tickets on The Big M’s new $1 PK 8.

After $14,604 of “new money” was poured into the hat on top of the carryover of $40,684, the two tickets with eight correct were exchanged for $26,543.90.

Once you got past the first leg, where the winner went off at odds of 10-1, a very havable sequence that saw winners sent to the gate at 2-1, 4-5, 1-2, 2-1, 5-2, 1-5 and 9-2 followed.

The $1 PK 8 will resume Saturday with $50,000 in seeded money from wager sponsor Peter Kleinhans serving as the fuel to entice players.

The bet is offered on races three through 10.

A LITTLE MORE: Kelly, Brett Beckwith and Mark Herschberger all won three races to tie atop the driver leaderboard. … Per Engblom paced the trainers with three jaunts down victory lane. … All-source handle on the 15-race program totaled $2,829,403. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6 p.m. The new 6 p.m. post time will stay in effect until April 25.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands