Harambe Deo put on a show Saturday night (Oct. 10) at The Meadowlands in taking the $20,000 high-end conditioned pacing feature in a lifetime-best 1:48.4.

“He’s never predictable,” said trainer Jeff Cullipher. “But he will come up large sometimes and then sometimes he’ll get beat when you think he shouldn’t.”

The five-year-old gelded son of Woodstock-Tea Time came up large this time.

Driver Simon Allard had the gas pedal all the way down from post 6 in the seven-horse field (there was one scratch), and to make sure he put 2-1 second choice Western Joe in the two-hole, paced the opening fraction in a sensational :25.4.

“When I saw that quarter,” said Cullipher. “I said ‘he’s cooked’.”

Geez Joe, the 8-5 favourite, sat a three-hole early before powering up to grab the top at the half in a quick :53.3 as Harambe Deo yielded and sat the pocket.

But on the far turn–to his trainer’s surprise–Harambe Deo pulled out of the two-hole and came after the leader at three-quarters (1:22.1), opened a one-and-a-half length edge turning for home, then drew clear through the stretch to defeat Geez Joe by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Wes Delight was third.

“[Harambe Deo] is usually right there,” said Cullipher. “But I was surprised Simon kept him alive.”

As the fourth choice in the wagering, Harambe Deo–who paced his final quarter in :26.2–returned $18.80 to win. He now has 15 victories from 80 starts and earnings of $242,619 for owners Pollack Racing and Jeff Cullipher.

THREE PEATS: Cullipher’s night did not merely consist of winning the feature, as he sent three to victory lane. Bruce Saunders matched Cullipher by also training three winners on the card. Corey Callahan topped the drivers with three scores.

A LITTLE MORE: Franco Totem N flexed his back-class muscles in taking the first of two Fall Harvest Series Finals (for non-winners of $4,500) on the pace by three-and-three-quarter lengths, and in the process, lowered his previous lifetime best by a full second after hitting the wire in 1:49. George Napolitano Jr. drove the seven-year-old gelded son of Changeover-Treaty Franco, who was the even-money public choice, for trainer "Nifty" Norman.

Decision Day and Callahan worked a perfect-pocket trip to take the other division (this one for non-winners of $7,600) as the 8-5 second choice. The Saunders trained five-year-old gelded son of Rock N Roll-Chief Karen hit the wire in 1:49, also lowering his previous lifetime best by a full second.

All-source wagering totaled $2,245,221.

Racing resumes Friday (Oct. 16) at 7:15 p.m. (EDT).

(Meadowlands Racetrack)