Meadowlands offers eight lucrative stakes finals
Two days after many Americans were still recuperating from a Thanksgiving Day feast and one day after many of them embarked on some early holiday shopping courtesy of Black Friday, the Meadowlands hosted a stellar card highlighting pacers and trotters of all ages and both Rosecroft Raceway and Pocono Downs presented several competitive events for older pacers.
Saturday's third race at the Big M was the $175,000 TVG Mares Trot Final, Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras) left and tucked behind Emoticon Hanover (Daniel Dube) through the first turn, sat a loose pocket down the backside and through the far turn, angled out at the head of the lane and easily overhauled the early leader en route to a two-length score in 1:52.3. A five-year-old Swan For All mare trained by Ron Burke, Hannelore Hanover ended her season with three straight wins and now owns a 10-5-0 slate and $1.04 million banked from 17 starts this year and will certainly be among the finalists for trotter of the year and horse of the year.
One race later in the $350,000 TVG Open Trot final, What The Hill (David Miller) left to gain command early, yielded to 4-5 favorite Crazy Wow (Gingras) before the half, sat a tight pocket through the far turn, angled to the inside at the top of the lane and surged clear midstretch then outlasted the late bid of Dayson (Matt Makaley) to score in 1:51.4. The only three-year-old in the field, What The Hill notched his ninth win in 18 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $950,000 despite an untimely disqualification from first in the $1 million Hambletonian final.
Then one race later in the $380,000 Three Diamonds final for two-year-old filly pacers, Youaremycandygirl (Gingras) overcame post 10 to gain command in a 26.2 opener, rebuffed a bid from Kissin In The Sand before the half in 53.2, shook loose from both on the far turn and then held sway for a two-length score in 1:51. A juvenile daughter of American Ideal trained by Burke, Youaremycandygirl recorded her ninth win in 11 starts this year and pushed her seasonal earnings past $900,000 as she punctuated her division title.
Then one race later in the $420,000 Goldsmith Maid final for two-year-old trotting fillies, Plunge Blue Chip (Svandstedt) lived up to her role as the 3-5 choice when she tucked third early, angled out first over past the half, grinded her way past Hey Blondie on the far turn and drew off in the lane to a four-length score in 1:53.1. A juvenile daughter of Muscle Mass trained by Svandstedt, Plunge Blue Chip recorded her ninth win in 10 starts this year and doubled her seasonal earnings to $420,000 and secured the runner-up spot in the divisional honors behind Manchego.
Then one race later on the card, Pure Country (Mark Macdonald) overcame a long, first over journey to wear down favored Darlinonthebeach and outlast the late bid of Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron) to score by a neck in 1:49. A four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Jimmy Takter, Pure Country notched her fifth win in 16 starts this year and pushed her seasonal earnings past $460,000 and has now banked over $2.2 million in her career.
Then one race later on the card, Lost In Time (Scott Zeron) gained command soon after the start, got a breather to the half in 55.3, dueled with Breeders Crown hero Stay Hungry (Doug McNair) through the far turn and all the way to the wire and just lasted for a neck score in 1:50.1. Hero of the Metro Pace earlier this year, Lost In Time recorded his fifth win in nine starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $620,000 and likely secured the divisional honors with his gritty score.
Then one race later in the $465,000 Valley Victory final for two-year-old trotting colts, Fourth Dimension (Brian Sears) lived up to his role as the 3-5 favorite when he brushed to command down the backside, raced unpressured down the backside and through the far turn and held safe the late bid of Wolfgang (Gingras) to score in 1:53.3. A juvenile son of Chapter Seven trained by Marcus Melander, Fourth Dimension notched his eighth win in 11 starts this year and likely secured divisional honors and accepted the role of future book favorite for next summer's Grade I, $1 million Hambletonian.
Then one race later in the $350,000 TVG Open Pace final, Mach It So (David Miller) gained command from All Bets Off (Kakaley) down the backside, got a breather by the half in 54.4, raced unpressed through the far turn and by three-quarters in 1:23.1 then outlasted the late kick of favored McWicked (Brian Sears) to score in 1:49.2. A seven-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Jeff Bamond, Jr., Mach It So notched his sixth win in 26 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $760,000 and now looks poised to capture the coveted title of champion aged pacer.
Mach It So, All Bets Off, Dealt A Winner and Mel Mara had competed in the Potomac Pace at Rosecroft in early November, while McWicked bypassed the Potomac after finishing second in the Breeders Crown. Mach It So had earlier been unlucky in the $150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial when second behind Bit Of A Legend N, but on Saturday night he got a breather down during the third quarter and sprinted clear briefly to outlast McWicked. Keystone Velocity won the Potomac Pace and earlier won the $530,000 George Morton Levy final and $500,000 Ben Franklin final and will get ample support for division honors.
In the opening race on the Rosecroft card Saturday, Kiss A Dragon (Russell Foster) benefited from fast early fractions up front and rallied from last and widest of all in the lane to capture the $10,000 Open Handicap in 1:51. A five-year-old Dragon Again gelding owned, trained and driven by Foster, Kiss A Dragon notched his second straight score and his third win in six starts at the meet and he now owns a 7-3-6 slate and $59,000 banked from 36 seasonal outings.
Several races later in the Rosecroft finale, JDs Courage (Richard Still) overcame post eight to gain command before the opener, maintained an honest tempo to the half and by three-quarters and then held safe Missed Opportunity (Frank Milby) to score in 1:54.2. A seven-year-old Sand Shooter gelding owned and trained by Brittany Bounds, JDs Courage prevailed in his debut for the barn and notched his second win in 15 starts this year overall.
In Saturday's second race at Pocono Downs, Eastend Eddie (Jim Marohn, Jr.) benefited from a pocket trip behind Dojea Solo (George Napolitano, Jr.) through modest fractions then angled to the passing lane and surged through late to score by a head over the late charging Casimir Jitterbug in 1:51.3 in a non-winners of $18,000 last five starts class. A nine-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding trained by Ron Burke, Eastend Eddie notched his second straight victory and now owns a 6-3-3 slate and $60,000 bankroll from 28 starts this year.
Two races later in the other half of the split non-winners of $18,000 last five starts class, Blaise MM Hanover (Anthony Napolitano) benefited from a pocket trip behind Beat The Drum (George Napolitano, Jr.) through honest fractions to the half and three-quarters, angled out turning for home and overhauled the leader in the lane for a neck score in 1:51. A four-year-old Bettor's Delight stallion, Blaise MM Hanover now owns a 9-5-5 slate and $185,000 banked from 29 starts this year and ended a modest drought in the process.
Then one race later in the non-winners of $23,000 last five starts class, Archangel Three (George Napolitano) parked Moonliteonthebeach (Jordan Stratton) to the opener in 26.1, sat a tight pocket down the backside and through the far turn, angled to the passing lane and just got up in the final yards in 1:50.1. A four-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Burke, Archangel Three notched his second straight victory and now owns an 8-2-3 slate and $98,000 banked from 20 starts.
Several races later in the featured Winners Over class, Three Of Clubs (George Napolitano, Jr.) gained command in a 26.3 opener, got a breather to the half in 55 flat then rebuffed a bid from 4-5 favorite Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton) down the backside and through the far turn and held safe the late bid of the pocket sitting Si Semalu (Marohn) to score in 1:50.1. A six-year-old Mach Three stallion trained by Matias Ruiz, Three Of Clubs recorded his eighth win in 31 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings toward $130,000.
Saturday's third race at the Big M was the $175,000 TVG Mares Trot Final, Hannelore Hanover (Yannick Gingras) left and tucked behind Emoticon Hanover (Daniel Dube) through the first turn, sat a loose pocket down the backside and through the far turn, angled out at the head of the lane and easily overhauled the early leader en route to a two-length score in 1:52.3. A five-year-old Swan For All mare trained by Ron Burke, Hannelore Hanover ended her season with three straight wins and now owns a 10-5-0 slate and $1.04 million banked from 17 starts this year and will certainly be among the finalists for trotter of the year and horse of the year.
One race later in the $350,000 TVG Open Trot final, What The Hill (David Miller) left to gain command early, yielded to 4-5 favorite Crazy Wow (Gingras) before the half, sat a tight pocket through the far turn, angled to the inside at the top of the lane and surged clear midstretch then outlasted the late bid of Dayson (Matt Makaley) to score in 1:51.4. The only three-year-old in the field, What The Hill notched his ninth win in 18 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $950,000 despite an untimely disqualification from first in the $1 million Hambletonian final.
Then one race later in the $380,000 Three Diamonds final for two-year-old filly pacers, Youaremycandygirl (Gingras) overcame post 10 to gain command in a 26.2 opener, rebuffed a bid from Kissin In The Sand before the half in 53.2, shook loose from both on the far turn and then held sway for a two-length score in 1:51. A juvenile daughter of American Ideal trained by Burke, Youaremycandygirl recorded her ninth win in 11 starts this year and pushed her seasonal earnings past $900,000 as she punctuated her division title.
Then one race later in the $420,000 Goldsmith Maid final for two-year-old trotting fillies, Plunge Blue Chip (Svandstedt) lived up to her role as the 3-5 choice when she tucked third early, angled out first over past the half, grinded her way past Hey Blondie on the far turn and drew off in the lane to a four-length score in 1:53.1. A juvenile daughter of Muscle Mass trained by Svandstedt, Plunge Blue Chip recorded her ninth win in 10 starts this year and doubled her seasonal earnings to $420,000 and secured the runner-up spot in the divisional honors behind Manchego.
Then one race later on the card, Pure Country (Mark Macdonald) overcame a long, first over journey to wear down favored Darlinonthebeach and outlast the late bid of Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron) to score by a neck in 1:49. A four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere trained by Jimmy Takter, Pure Country notched her fifth win in 16 starts this year and pushed her seasonal earnings past $460,000 and has now banked over $2.2 million in her career.
Then one race later on the card, Lost In Time (Scott Zeron) gained command soon after the start, got a breather to the half in 55.3, dueled with Breeders Crown hero Stay Hungry (Doug McNair) through the far turn and all the way to the wire and just lasted for a neck score in 1:50.1. Hero of the Metro Pace earlier this year, Lost In Time recorded his fifth win in nine starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $620,000 and likely secured the divisional honors with his gritty score.
Then one race later in the $465,000 Valley Victory final for two-year-old trotting colts, Fourth Dimension (Brian Sears) lived up to his role as the 3-5 favorite when he brushed to command down the backside, raced unpressured down the backside and through the far turn and held safe the late bid of Wolfgang (Gingras) to score in 1:53.3. A juvenile son of Chapter Seven trained by Marcus Melander, Fourth Dimension notched his eighth win in 11 starts this year and likely secured divisional honors and accepted the role of future book favorite for next summer's Grade I, $1 million Hambletonian.
Then one race later in the $350,000 TVG Open Pace final, Mach It So (David Miller) gained command from All Bets Off (Kakaley) down the backside, got a breather by the half in 54.4, raced unpressed through the far turn and by three-quarters in 1:23.1 then outlasted the late kick of favored McWicked (Brian Sears) to score in 1:49.2. A seven-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Jeff Bamond, Jr., Mach It So notched his sixth win in 26 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $760,000 and now looks poised to capture the coveted title of champion aged pacer.
Mach It So, All Bets Off, Dealt A Winner and Mel Mara had competed in the Potomac Pace at Rosecroft in early November, while McWicked bypassed the Potomac after finishing second in the Breeders Crown. Mach It So had earlier been unlucky in the $150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial when second behind Bit Of A Legend N, but on Saturday night he got a breather down during the third quarter and sprinted clear briefly to outlast McWicked. Keystone Velocity won the Potomac Pace and earlier won the $530,000 George Morton Levy final and $500,000 Ben Franklin final and will get ample support for division honors.
In the opening race on the Rosecroft card Saturday, Kiss A Dragon (Russell Foster) benefited from fast early fractions up front and rallied from last and widest of all in the lane to capture the $10,000 Open Handicap in 1:51. A five-year-old Dragon Again gelding owned, trained and driven by Foster, Kiss A Dragon notched his second straight score and his third win in six starts at the meet and he now owns a 7-3-6 slate and $59,000 banked from 36 seasonal outings.
Several races later in the Rosecroft finale, JDs Courage (Richard Still) overcame post eight to gain command before the opener, maintained an honest tempo to the half and by three-quarters and then held safe Missed Opportunity (Frank Milby) to score in 1:54.2. A seven-year-old Sand Shooter gelding owned and trained by Brittany Bounds, JDs Courage prevailed in his debut for the barn and notched his second win in 15 starts this year overall.
In Saturday's second race at Pocono Downs, Eastend Eddie (Jim Marohn, Jr.) benefited from a pocket trip behind Dojea Solo (George Napolitano, Jr.) through modest fractions then angled to the passing lane and surged through late to score by a head over the late charging Casimir Jitterbug in 1:51.3 in a non-winners of $18,000 last five starts class. A nine-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding trained by Ron Burke, Eastend Eddie notched his second straight victory and now owns a 6-3-3 slate and $60,000 bankroll from 28 starts this year.
Two races later in the other half of the split non-winners of $18,000 last five starts class, Blaise MM Hanover (Anthony Napolitano) benefited from a pocket trip behind Beat The Drum (George Napolitano, Jr.) through honest fractions to the half and three-quarters, angled out turning for home and overhauled the leader in the lane for a neck score in 1:51. A four-year-old Bettor's Delight stallion, Blaise MM Hanover now owns a 9-5-5 slate and $185,000 banked from 29 starts this year and ended a modest drought in the process.
Then one race later in the non-winners of $23,000 last five starts class, Archangel Three (George Napolitano) parked Moonliteonthebeach (Jordan Stratton) to the opener in 26.1, sat a tight pocket down the backside and through the far turn, angled to the passing lane and just got up in the final yards in 1:50.1. A four-year-old Mach Three gelding trained by Burke, Archangel Three notched his second straight victory and now owns an 8-2-3 slate and $98,000 banked from 20 starts.
Several races later in the featured Winners Over class, Three Of Clubs (George Napolitano, Jr.) gained command in a 26.3 opener, got a breather to the half in 55 flat then rebuffed a bid from 4-5 favorite Bit Of A Legend N (Jordan Stratton) down the backside and through the far turn and held safe the late bid of the pocket sitting Si Semalu (Marohn) to score in 1:50.1. A six-year-old Mach Three stallion trained by Matias Ruiz, Three Of Clubs recorded his eighth win in 31 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings toward $130,000.
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