Last year's Hambletonian and Canadian Trotting Classic winner Market Share made an imposing return to the races on Friday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Facing a solid field of A-1/FFA type trotters after two qualifying preps, he was rated off the lead, as indicated in a pre-race interview by driver Tim Tetrick, and wound up in a perfect stalking position.

Harbor Point set an honest pace of :27.1, :55.1, and 1:24.1 as Ice Machine provided cover to Market Share and took him up to the leader. Tetrick said "go" when they trotted off the last turn and got the answer he hoped for in the form of a sub :27-second final quarter, finishing off the 1:51.1 mile. Undercover Strike knifed through with good trot late to be second and Guccio closed for the show spot.

Richard Gutnick, TLP Stable and Bill Augustine share ownership of the winner, who is conditioned by Linda Toscano.

The total handle saw an increase of 25 per cent from the same Friday in 2012. In addition, live handle was up nearly 10 per cent. The Meadowlands has shown an increase in handle each of the 52 race dates so far in 2013.

The Saturday night program at the Meadowlands promises to be a class with four $150,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championships, a pair of Golden Girls divisions and another leg of the TVG Pacing Free For All Championship Series, featuring Golden Receiver and Sweet Lou. Post time for the 14-race program is 7:15 p.m.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.

(Meadowlands Racetrack)