Entering Friday night, Market Share was winless in four starts this season. In fact, he was yet to hit the board. But that all changed in the featured $28,500 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadowlands.

Market Share had his game face on this Friday night, as he soared around the East Rutherford, New Jersey oval, winning in wire-to-wire fashion as the 2-1 second choice.

Market Share led at every point of call, and trotted a :27.2 final quarter while holding off the fast-closing Handover Belle to win in 1:51.1. The race favourite, Obrigado, trailed for much of the mile and despite flying home in :26.3, could only manage to finish third.

Both the winner and third-place finisher are likely headed to the John Cashman Memorial on Hambletonian Day. Eliminations (if necessary) will be contested next Saturday night.

The win was the 26th in the illustrious career of Market Share, whose earnings are just shy of $3.7 million.

He is owned by Richard Gutnick, William Augustine and the T L P Stable. He is conditioned by Linda Toscano and was driven to victory by Tim Tetrick, who was a five-time winner during the 12-race card.

Tetrick also scored in the $28,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace with the Pennsylvania invader, Ooh Bad Shark, who scored an off the pace win in 1:48.3.

Ooh Bad Shark left for position from post six, but was quickly trapped along the pylons as Sandbetweenurtoes and Radar Contact vied for command. In the stretch, Ooh Bad Shark was loaded with pace, but had to wait for racing room before angling out wide and finishing with a flourish to chase down Radar Contact with a :26.3 final quarter to score in a lifetime-best performance. Longshot Lucys Pearl rallied to be third.

The winner is owned by Donna Fedorak and William Wiggins, who is also the trainer.

The first round of the Kindergarten Trotting Series commenced on Friday as well. The colts split into three $10,000 divisions while the fillies contested a pair of $10,000 heats.

On the colt side, Reve Royale, Waitlifter K and Winter Harbor emerged victorious while Hollywood Hill and Twice Is Right scored in the filly divisions. Both filly winners are trained by Jimmy Takter and are eligible to the Jim Doherty Memorial while Waitlifter K and Winter Harbor are Peter Haughton-eligible.

Brittany Farms had a big night, finding the winner’s circle three times with Winter Harbor, Propulsion and Twice Is Right.

Rules Of The Road came up with a big effort in a condition trotting event, dominating a solid group in 1:52.3, a lifetime mark. The filly is trained by Janice Connor for the Arden Homestead Stable and was driven by Corey Callahan. She is eligible to the Hambletonian Oaks. Eliminations will take place next Saturday night.

There was more than one winning ticket in the last race Jackpot Super Hi-5, therefore that carryover will be $214,272.42 into the 13th race on Saturday.

The Saturday program will begin at 7:15 p.m. and it features the $200,000 New Jersey Classic and the $100,000 Miss New Jersey.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)