Ontario-based Dapper Dude took the fight to the Free For All pacers early and often in the featured $30,000 sixth race Free For All Handicap at The Meadowlands on Saturday night.

Sent off as the 4-1 third choice, Dapper Dude was asked for speed right off the gate by John Campbell and quickly made the early lead. Campbell relinquished that lead through an opening quarter of :27-seconds to Beach Memories, but quickly re-took the advantage when the field straightened away on the backstretch. Dapper Dude reached the half-mile in :54.2. Meanwhile, Wake Up Peter committed first over for Brett Miller and closed the gap on the leader going past three-quarters in 1:22.3. Dapper Dude accelerated in the stretch, but Wake Up Peter would not give in and kept coming after the leader. Doctor Butch, who was tracking the cover of Wake Up Peter, also began to close in on the top two. But, Dapper Dude was able to keep his rivals at bay, turning the tables on Wake Up Peter to score in 1:49.1, just one-fifth of a second off his lifetime mark.

Dapper Dude is trained by Jeffrey Smith for Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, Ontario and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington, Ontario.

Ontario-bred Warrawee Needy got back to his winning ways, leading for much of the mile in the seventh race $20,000 B-1 Pace. Sent off as the lukewarm 5-2 favourite, Warrawee Needy showed good speed off the gate and continued moving forward until he wrestled the lead away from Michaels Power going past the opening quarter in :26.2. Warrawee Needy settled down nicely for Mark MacDonald tonight, getting to the half-mile in :54.4 before picking up the pace around the far turn, hitting three-quarters in a strong 1:22.1. He was chased all the way to the wire by pocket-sitting Michaels Power, but was able to fend off that old rival to score in 1:49.1. Rockin Wizard went a big trip first over to be third.

Warrawee Needy is trained by Mark Ford, who co-owns the winner with David Shea of Campbellville, Ontario and Carl Jamieson of Rockwood, Ontario.

The other B-1 division was won by Capozzo in a mild 8-1 upset. Making a strong move first over into some tepid fractions, Capozzo made the lead at the head of the stretch and held off a rally from Sweet Rock to score in 1:50.2. The win marked the third on the night for driver Corey Callahan. He steered Capozzo for trainer Mark Capone and owners Thomas Finelli and Salvator Capone.

Brett Miller won three races on the card while John Campbell and Tim Tetrick both earned driving doubles on the Saturday program.

Handle for the Saturday program was $3,065,235.

Tonight The Meadowlands said good-bye to 2014 with a promotion for its customers where they could win a share of $2,014. The big winner was Lisa Origono, who won $500. The promotion will return next Friday, January 2, where contestants will compete for a share of $2,015 as The Meadowlands rings in the New Year.

Racing resumes on Friday, January 2 with first post time at 7:15 p.m. There will be a pair of carryovers into that program. The fifth race Jackpot Super Hi-5 will sport a carryover of $2,056 into the Friday program while the 13th race Jackpot Super Hi-5 carryover is up to $21,319.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)