Series Mania At The Big M
The Thursday card at The Meadowlands Racetrack featured wall-to-wall series action as trotters battled in divisions of the Super Bowl and pacing mares went head-to-head in splits of the White Ruffles
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Zeitgeist got things started with a 1:56.3 score in his $12,500 Super Bowl assignment. The four-year-old son of SJs Caviar chopped out panels of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:29.3 for driver Brian Sears before roaring home in a :27-second clip to stop the clock in 1:56.3. Race favourite Monsignor Flan, who made a late break, survived an inquiry to grab the runner-up spot while Flourescent grabbed the show dough.
Henrik Lundell trains the six-time winner for he and partner Peter Barbato of Demarest, NJ. The victory bumped the gelding’s bankroll to $33,860.
Fortissimo prevailed in a four-way photo to take the second division of the Super Bowl for driver Brian Sears in a time of 1:58.2. Sent off at odds of 14-1, the four-year-old son of Wooden Dancer surged late to score the narrow decision over Jeanie Marie. Toocloseforcomfort, who was sent off as the 1/5 favourite, came first over and wound up finishing third.
It was the first start of the season for the Kent Sherman student, who went 2-for-30 last season. The gelding has stashed away $44,390 to date for owner Keith Pippi of Pittsburgh, PA.
Dolce Ducci got front-end marching orders in the third division of the Super Bowl from driver Andy Miller, and the four-year-old son of Muscles Yankee never looked back once he took the lead. He led the field through splits of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:29 before using a :28.1 final frame to seal the deal in 1:57.1. Stormont Stirfry enjoyed a pocket trip throughout and stayed for second, while Willie Count rallied late and took home third prize.
Julie Miller conditions the four-time winner for the Andy Miller Stable Inc of Millstone Township, NJ. The lion’s share of the purse lifted his lifetime earnings to $22,200.
Alcarine rallied to win in a career-best clocking of 1:55.4 in the fourth division of the Super Bowl Series for trainer/driver Daryl Bier. The four-year-old daughter of Revenue S, who was a four-time winner in 2010, held off a late rush from runner-up Morven in the $12,500 tilt. Doully held on for third prize.
Nicholas Cimino of Pompano Beach, FL cashes the cheques and pays the training bills on the homebred, who has banked more than $32,000 in her career.
Ellens Isle gave the husband and wife duo of driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller their second series victory on the card thanks to her 1:55.3 decision in the fifth division of the Super Bowl Series. The four-year-old Windsongs Legacy miss sliced out splits of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:27 before stepping home in :28.3 to defeat Political Muscle and Bullet.
Joseph Krizan of New Egypt along with Jason and Douglas Allen of Southampton, NJ share ownership on the pacer, who won for the third time in her career.
Fax Me erupted for a 23-1 upset for driver Brandon Simpson in the opening division of the White Ruffles, knocking off heavily favoured Only The World who saw her six-race winning streak come to a halt.
Jimmy The Terror led the field to the quarter pole in :27.2 before giving way to Only The World shortly past the mid-way point in :58.2. Only The World came under fierce pressure from Fax Me around the final turn, and those two were locked in strides past the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. Fax Me pulled away in the closing strides en route to the 1:53.4 decision, with Only The World holding on for second prize over third-place finisher Lorrie Please.
The James Eaton-trained four-year-old daughter of Cape Crusader is now 2-for-2 in 2011 after going 5-for-11 last season. The career winner of $21,875 is owned by Brett Wilfong of Donovan, IL and Lynn Wilfong of Kentland, IN.
Summer Snow was a popular winner in the second division of the White Ruffles Series for the tandem of driver Brian Sears and trainer Albert Meyer. The grey mare brushed to the lead going into the final turn and took the field past the three-quarter pole in 1:25.4 before finishing off the competition with a :28.1 last quarter. The 1:54 clocking was a career-best for the pacer, who defeated Tryst and Fortunes Smile.
The Squawk Box Stable LLC of Monroe Township, NJ owns the daughter of Admirals Galley, who is now 1-for-2 this season after going 5-for-12 last year. She has banked in excess of $18,000 in her career.
Harlem Rockturne rallied to a 1:54.2 score in the third division of the White Ruffles Series for the lethal duo of driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ronnie Burke. The four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover miss paced the mile in 1:54.2 en route to beating Whistle A Tune and Four Starz Roe.
Ribbonships of Somerset, NJ owns the streaking distaffer, who is now 3-for-3 this season after going 1-for-4 in her sophomore campaign. She has banked more than $23,000 in her career.
To view Thursday's results, click here.