The opening leg of The Horse & Groom Series kicked off at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Thursday, and the favourites were shut out in each of the divisions

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Driver David Miller worked out a second-over trip for Celebrity Hercules in the first division, and the five-year-old son of Kadabra-Bravura Hanover had no problem capitalizing on the trip en route to posting a 1:55.1 victory.

Celebrity Hercules rode the cover of Folk Tail, who applied pressure to the tempo-setting race favourite, Dont Know Chip, around the final turn. Miller flipped off cover turning for home and his charge used a :28.4 final quarter to defeat Dont Know Chip by 1-3/4 lengths. Proud Moment rounded out the top three.

Nikolas Drennan trains the gelding, who was sent off at odds of 5-2, for the DDT Stable of Burlington, ON. The victory lifted the eight-time winner’s lifetime earnings to $216,367.

Affirmed Action pulled off a mild upset in the second $20,000 division, winning as the 3-1 second choice in a time of 1:54 for driver Ron Pierce.

The five-year-old son of Conway Hall-Joanns Action, who is trained by John Grasso, stalked leader Southwind Vavoom through panels of :27.4, :56.1 and 1:25.4, and when that leader tired and drifted off the rail Pierce took full advantage of the opportunity. Affirmed Action sprinted his way along to pylons to win in 1:54 over the hard-closing favourite, Arriba Amigo. Southwind Vavoom held on for third prize.

John Grasso Stable Inc of Hawthorne, NY owns the 10-time winner, who pushed his lifetime cash stash to $122,793 with the victory.

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, please click the following link: Thursday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.