The heroics of White Knight Brian Sears were on display during Friday night’s Clyde Hirt Stakes dominated card as the 2011 leading reinsman at the Meadowlands Racetrack returned to the sulky after being tossed to the ground and dragged down the stretch prior to the third race
.
Sears was dumped by his mount Irish Elitist as he made a turn heading behind the starting gate. The horseman managed to hold on to the reins and back of the bike while being dragged and wrestled the horse to a stop. After a brief delay to the start of the race while both the driver and horse were checked out, the White Knight and his charge put their game faces on and headed back out to the track. The pair closed well from the back of the 10-horse field to finish sixth, four and a half lengths off the winner.
The incident occurred between the first two of four $16,000 Clyde Hirt Stakes divisions, which were the main events on the Friday card. The series is for non-winners of three races or $75,000 lifetime as of Dec. 10 of last year.
Delaware invader Special T Rocks ($4.60) kicked off the series action with a 1:52.4 victory in rein to Victor Kirby for trainer and co-owner Daryl Bier.
Special T Rocks advanced first up from fifth down the backstretch and cleared to command just past the half-mile marker. The 6-5 favourite led the field into the stretch while the pocket-sitting Cam B Zipper began to close up the pylons, but made a costly break in stride leaving Special T Rocks two and a half lengths clear on top at the wire. The victory was the gelding’s fourth in a row. Cam Be Zippper came in second with 43-1 longshot Painted Black over five lengths behind in third. Bier shares ownership of the four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover with Forrest Bartlett and Joann Dombeck.
Next up, the David Miller-driven Bolero Andrew ($14.60) survived a first over journey to win the second division in 1:51.3 by a neck.
Heavy favourite Mickey Hanover established the early lead and moved back out for the retake once the parked out Post 9 starter Thebestofjoel cleared at the first quarter mark. He then led the rest of the way before being collared by second choice Bolero Andrew -- who advanced first over from fifth down the backside -- and the pylon-skimming Thebestofjoel in the stretch. The four-year-old son of Bettors Delight is trained by Joseph Poliseno for owner Kostas Tsnakos.
Illinois ship in Flowmaster ($12) was forwardly placed early on and shot up the pylons to score a career-best 1:52 triumph in the third division with trainer Brandon Simpson between the wheels.
Fall Bliss established the early lead before Flowmaster swept to command past the opening quarter mark. However, Mach My Words was hot on his heels and took over command down the backstretch with We The People leading the outer flow. Down the stretch, Flowmaster found room on the inside to get up for the close victory over last-closers Upfront Ellijay Ed and Joe De Fino, who both rallied three-wide from third and fourth over at the third quarter station. The four-year-old gelded son of Cole Muffler is owned by Desyllas Racing LLC, Carol Rieken, and William Beck.
Real Flight ($3.80) doubled up at the Big M with a 1:52.1 triumph in the final division for the team of driver Tim Tetrick and trainer P.J. Fraley.
The popular Real Flight advanced to the lead from third after the opening panel and fought off the first over challenge of Hold Your Hat around the final bend en route to victory lane. Rhombus rallied home off second over cover to place while 29-1 shot Western Victory came on for third. The four-year-old Real Desire gelding is owned by Jeffrey Bamond.
The Meadowlands also hosted a special 1-1/2 mile dash featuring 13 starters racing with a claiming price tag of $7,500 in which Post 2 starter Tearful Reunion ($6.40), a Delaware ship in, and driver Andy Miller advanced to command off a second over tow past the half-mile mark and kicked away to an open length victory in 2:57.2. Post 11 starter and 20-1 shot Hez Da Man slipped between horses for runner-up honours over Post 13 starter Twinscape, a 90-1 longshot who was left uncovered in the first over spot after Tearful Reunion cleared. The five-year-old Art Major son, trained by Julie Miller and owned by the Bay Pond Racing Stable, notched his fourth career win in 24 starts.
The distance race for $7,500 claimers will be carded weekly through March 11, with the top 10 money earners advancing to a $20,000 estimated final on March 23.
The first 1 1/2-mile race at the Meadowlands was held in December 1976 and won by Bound To Be N from the Ray Remmen barn. The track and world record for the distance is 2:53.1, set by Whats Next in 1987. The 1-1/2 mile distance was more commonplace in the early years of Meadowlands racing, most notably in the World Cup (1982-1985) and Statue Of Liberty (1985-1989) Stakes.
Ron Burke scored a training triple during the 11-race card with teamster Yannick Gingras.
To view Friday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)