Bettor Sweet began his four-year-old campaign on the right note with an eye-catching 1.49.4 triumph in the $33,000 Open Pace on Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Nobles Grand Slam (Yannick Gingras) fired first but Hennessy Hanover (Ron Pierce) reached the front by the first quarter in :27.2. From there Cat Manzi had Bettor Sweet rolling from fourth and the 4-5 favourite landed on top before Psilvuheartbreaker (James Meittinis) took the lead at the half in :54.2 and coasted past three-quarters in 1:22.4.
The second half of the race saw only one more lead change after Bettor Sweet found room at the rail. The Joe Poliseno pupil held off a quick-closing Toucam Sam (Daniel Dube) for his fourth straight win and 10th of his career. Psilvuheartbreaker finished third.
The gelded son of Bettors Delight, who is aiming to compete in the three-week Aquarius Series in February, has earned $330,927 for owner John Cancelliere of Clark, New Jersey.
In the featured $35,000 Invitational Pace, Winbak Speed assumed command of the lead midway down the backstretch and never looked back as he cruised to an easy four-length win.
Driven by Ron Pierce, Winbak Speed tracked in fourth position through the opening quarter mile, but quickly moved to the front after a half mile in :54.4 and never looked back, finishing the mile in 1:50.2.
Soul Chaser (David Miller), the 7-5 favorite, rallied to challenge for the lead at the top of the stretch, but had to settle for second, four lengths in front of Noble Falcon (Brian Sears) in third.
The win was the 21st of Winbak Speed’s career, as the six-year-old pushed his career earnings over $350,000 for owners Melvin Wayne Givens of Seaford and Neil Gargiulo of Milford, Delaware.
Winbak Speed, along with many others from this race, is nominated to the Presidential Series that kicks off next Saturday night.
Trainer Mark Kesmodel also had a good start to the year with three winners on the 11-race card. The 2008 meet leader saw Swinging Grin take a new mark in his fifth straight win in a time of 1:52.2 in Race 8 with David Miller at the reins.
In addition, Line Of Fire (1:51) and Blatantly Good (1:50.3) both put forth their best performances in Races 4 and 5 for Kesmodel.
To view tonight’s results, click here.
(With files from NJSEA)