Austin Siegelman gave Bronzer a perfect steer, while taking advantage of rough trips for some of the top horses, to record his 3,000th lifetime win in the featured $27,778 high-end conditioned trot on Sunday, Jan. 11 at The Meadowlands.
Bronzer was away well from post two in the field of 10, as was Clear For Landing (Brett Beckwith), and the duo reached the quarter in :28.2 before Clear For Landing reached the top. Bronzer sat behind that foe in the pocket as the half went in :56.2. Down the backstretch, 6-1 fourth choice Bourbonista S (Jonathan Ahle) was travelling first-over, but she weakened nearing three-quarters, where Clear For Landing still led in 1:25.
Benny J (Jim Marohn Jr.), the even-money favourite and Exit 16W Pop-Up Series champion, had to take back early and was victimized by a shuffle before swinging three-wide in a dull flow in an effort where he performed credibly to finish fourth. Enter the opportunistic Bronzer, who swerved off the rail at the head of the stretch and went past Clear For Landing at the eighth pole on the way to an easy 2-1/4-length win in 1:54.2, his 11th victory in 42 lifetime tries. Clear For Landing held second with Diplomacy (Colin Kelly) third.
Bronzer’s driver thought the five-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Win Missy B would excel shipping in from a half-mile track.
“He’s been racing really well at Yonkers and has been closing well,” said Siegelman. “The Yonkers horses translate great here. He’s good at both spots."
As the 11-1 sixth choice in the betting, Bronzer returned $25.20 to win. The stallion, owned and trained by Amanda Fine of Guelph, Ont., increased his lifetime earnings to $199,703.
Siegelman, who doubled on Saturday's card, now has 3,000 lifetime wins in 24,019 starts since his debut in 2012. His best season was in 2022, when he racked up 336 victories and $5,497,209 in earnings.
Brett Beckwith won five races on the first of four consecutive Sunday afternoon programs at the Big M, giving the 22-year-old pilot 18 winners on the year in 65 starts. His wins were with Ourmomentntime ($3.80), Dancing Lew ($4.20), Lindy The Brave ($8.20), Pack A Punch ($3) and Like A King ($7.80). He’s now had two five-baggers during 2026. In December, Beckwith won seven races on a card, becoming the first to do so since 2021.
McKenzie Sowers and Paul Fusco topped the trainers with a pair of victories apiece.
All-source handle on the 14-race card totalled $1,871,586. Racing resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from The Meadowlands)