Sir Caviar won five straight races — none of them in the Preferred — at The Meadows between May 24 and July 10, only to see his streak snapped by a poor performance at Mohawk that had players looking elsewhere. And with Sir Caviar apparently trapped in and Rembrandt Spur, a multiple track record-holder, in gear, the outcome seemed sealed.

But Brian Zendt angled Sir Caviar off the pylons for clearance, and the 4-year-old SJ’s Caviar-Sierra Flower gelding did the rest, downing Rembrandt Spur by a length in a career-best 1:54.2. Master Begonia finished third. Leslie Zendt trains Sir Caviar and owns with Bill Zendt.

The co-featured $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Pace also brought an upset, as 15-1 Palazzo Princess went from worst to first with a pylon-skimming trip for Eric Ledford to notch her third consecutive victory. The 4-year-old daughter of Jate Lobell-Hawaiian Exotica scored in 1:52.4, 3/4 lengths better than the rallying Francie’s Dream, while Forever Ivy saved show. Paul Kennedy trains Palazzo Princess for Paint Creek Farms.

Elsewhere on the card, Don’t Blink captured a Non-Winners of 3 Trot in 1:57.2, fastest mile this year by a 2-year-old trotting filly on a five-eighths-mile track. Dave Palone drove for trainer Kris Rickert and owner Dale Wareham.

Tony Hall drove three winners on the 14-race program.

Grand Circuit action at The Meadows resumes Friday with three Arden Downs Stakes: the Catherine Baker Knoll for freshman filly pacers; the Ned McCarr for 3-year-old trotting fillies, and the James Manderino for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters. A total of $228,486 will be up for grabs over eight stakes divisions.

Evan PATTAK