Billed as a match-up between the razor sharp Sweet Justice and the classy Daylon Magician, Friday’s $30,000 Open Trot at The Meadowlands seemed to be a two-horse race on paper, but in the end, it was anything but.
Sweet Justice broke stride right at the start, seemingly leaving the race to Daylon Magician, who asserted an early lead. Setting fractions of :26.4, :55.2 and 1:23.4, Daylon Magician and Dave Miller turned for home seemingly on cruise control. But World Cup was guided off the pylons by Joe Bongiorno and made his move with three-sixteenths of a mile to go. And what a move it was as he wore down Daylon Magician sprinting home in :27.4 to get up by a nose at odds of 17-1.
World Cup is owned by Carly Roman and trained by Brad Irvine. The upset sparked a lone winning ticket in the Pick 5, which returned $30,052.60 for the $.50 cent minimum play.
The Pick 5 wasn’t the only pool with one winning ticket as Mike Simons repeat upset victory with Twin B Spike Man at 31-1 in the 10th race B-1/B-2 Handicap Trot ensured one winning ticket in the late Pick 4, which returned $64,811.80.
Perfect Alliance was a noteworthy impressive winner in her return to the races, romping to a seven-length score in a lifetime-best 1:53.3 as she gears up for the Charles Singer Memorial Series.
Driver Yannick Gingras stole the driving show tonight, winning five races and extending his lead in the drivers standing to 14 wins in front of Dave Miller.
Friday was another big night for the on-track handle, as it yielded a 14 percent increase over the same race day in 2013, while the total handle of $3,120,181 was a five percent increase.
Racing resumes on Saturday with first post time of 7:15 p.m. The program features a Free For All Handicap Pace, featuring Hypnotic Blue Chip, Bettors Edge and the razor sharp Dovuto Hanover.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)