Summer Camp extended his winning streak to five in his $18,000 first leg division of the Clyde Hirt Series for four-year-old pacers on Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack
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Summer Camp and driver Andy Miller ducked into third on the rail as Meirs Hanover (Brian Sears) carved out fractions of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:22.4. Miller angled Summer Camp out on the final turn and he flew down the lane to nail Meirs Hanover by a head in 1:50.2. Touch The Rock (Tim Tetrick) finished second off the garden trip. Summer Camp paid $5.40 in the third race of the evening.
"I wasn't worried about being locked in because I thought that horse [Rockne] would die off on the outside," Miller said. "He was out there a long way. I was worried about Meirs Hanover getting away from me though. I really had to make up a lot of ground and I didn't know if I would have enough time to get there. One thing about Summer Camp is that he does not quit."
Summer Camp's streak began in the second leg of the Escort Series on Nov. 6, 2010 and includes a career best 1:49.3 in the $57,000 series final. Co-owned by Larry Baron and the VIP Stable, the son of Rocknroll Hanover-Roman Art reached the winner's circle nine times in 23 starts in 2010, earning over $80,000. The Josh Green trainee is now perfect in two starts this year. For more on Summer Camp, click here.
Highland Rocks and Sniper Seelster scooped up the other Clyde Hirt divisions.
Odds On Racing's Highland Rocks drew off to a 1:52.3 victory in the first of the splits with Tim Tetrick in tow. Trained by Carl Porcelli Jr., the son of Rocknroll Hanover-Falcons Secret made his first trip to the winner's circle this season and seventh overall.
Woodbine shipper Sniper Seelster announced his arrival with a huge stretch rally in the final Clyde Hirt division. The son of Western Maverick-Sporty Lucy, trained by Nikolas Drennan (three wins on the 12-race card), rocketed to a career best 1:50.4 clocking with John Campbell in the sulky. Sniper Seelster is now two-for-two this year for owners Will Alempijevic of Portland, Oregon, Donald Lindsey of Fergus, Ont. and Paul Kleinpaste of Orangeville, Ont. The partnership's Alexie Mattosie will tackle a tough field of free for all pacers in the $50,000 opening leg of the Presidential Series on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.
In regular racing action, Laughandbehappy ($3.40) captured her second consecutive Mares Invitational Pace on Friday for driver David Miller and trainer Jeff Webster.
A parked out Bet The Ranch (Ron Pierce) cleared the lead past the :27.3 first quarter before 3-5 favourite Laughandbehappy rolled up to take over. She reached the half in :55.3, three-quarters in 1:24.4 and cruised then to victory in 1:52.2. Cuz She Can (Tim Tetrick) advanced first over to place ahead of Bet The Ranch.
The five-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover-Zinful, now a perfect two-for-two in 2011 with $32,000 banked, is owned by the Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables and Jerry Silva. Laughandbehappy has won 22 out of 34 races in her career. The lion’s share of the $32,000 purse pushed her earnings over the $200,000 mark.
To view Friday's results, click here.
(With files from Meadowlands)