Ideal Newton brushed to the lead on the backstretch and was never threatened en route to a 1:50.3 victory in her $40,000 Cape & Cutter Series division Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack

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Steered by Tim Tetrick, Ideal Newton paid $4 to win the first of two series splits for open mare pacers. It was a half-length behind to Red Star Hottie, who could not escape the pocket until it was too late. Western Graduate skimmed the pylons the whole way and found room late to finish third.

It was the first win in two starts this season for Ideal Newton. The six-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Sass Newton made the trip to the winner's circle in 10 of her 24 starts last year. Ideal Newton is closing in on $500,000 in career earnings for trainer Noel Daley and Adam Victor & Son Stable.

Laughandbehappy won the second Cape & Cutter division under wraps in 1:51.4. David Miller rated the mare through fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.4 and she drew off to a 1-3/4-length victory over Cuz She Can. Omen Hanover got up for third. Sent off at 3-5, Laughandbehappy paid $3.20.

Laughandbehappy has won three of her four starts this season and looms the one to beat in the Cape & Cutter final on February 18. Coming off a three-week layoff, she finished third in the first round of the series, beaten only a nose by winner Symphony In Motion. Jeff Webster trains the five-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover-Zinful for Let It Ride Stables, Mentally Stables, Robert Cooper Stables and Jerry Silva. Laughandbehappy has won 23 of 36 career starts and $226,535.

Meirs Hanover held off his stablemate No Monkeys Allowed to win the $20,000 second leg of the Exit 16W Series for four-year-old pacers. Driven by Brian Sears, Meirs Hanover seized command at the quarter and ticked off fractions of :27.1, :55 and 1:23 en route to a 1:50.4 final clocking. Freddy Day Hanover charged late to finish third. Summer Camp, the even-money favourite, broke stride at the start and finished last.

One of four entrants in the race for trainer Ron Burke, Meirs Hanover paid $4.40. The son of Artsplace-Mary Mattgalane picked up his third win in five starts this season. Lifetime, he boasts a record of 11 wins in 20 starts for earning of $153,839. The Ohio-based partnership of David Van Dusen, Michael Cimaglio and Strollin Stable owns Meirs Hanover, a top contender for the Exit 16W final on February 19.

To view Friday's results, click here.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)