Driver Vinny Ginsburg and trainer Tony Alagna were the big stars at The Meadowlands on Friday night (October 19), as each scored three times on the 10-race program.
The potent pair teamed up to win twice on the card, first with Odds On Stephanie in a conditioned event for filly and mare pacers. The three-year-old by Somebeachsomewhere-Worldly Treasure scored as the 1-5 favourite in 1:53.4 in the second race to win for the second time in her career.
Ginsburg and Alagna scored again in the ninth race with 5-2 second choice Odds On St Lucie in a $10,000 division of the Kindergarten Classic for two-year-old fillies on the pace. The daughter of Sweet Lou-Shes Some Treasure completed the mile in 1:53.2, winning for the third time in eight career starts.
Ginsburg’s third winner of the night came in race seven behind the Chris Lakata-trained Lucky Weekend, who came back to win despite yielding the lead at the three-eighths. The son of Lucky Chucky-Weekend Vacation hit the wire in 1:56 after going postward at odds of 5-1 in a Kindergarten division for freshmen colt and gelding trotters.
Eric Abbatiello drove Alagna’s other winner of the night, Escapetothebeach, in the fifth race Kindergarten for pacing colts and geldings. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Shelliscape hit the wire in a lifetime-best equaling 1:52.2 after going off at odds of 3-1.
Other Kindergarten winners included Global Pageant, Jezzys Legacy, Jk Mardi Says, Melanies Tedy and Seven Hills.
A LITTLE MORE: There was one very happy simulcast player in the Buckeye State. Only one ticket – sold in Ohio – had all 10 winners in the 20-cent Survivor Pick-10, and returned $8,444. … The 50-cent Pick-4 pool reached a meet-high $76,960. … All-source wagering on the card totaled $1,340,547. … Marcus Johansson and Victor Kirby each recorded driving doubles. … Racing resumes Saturday night at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)