Herecomesdajudge sentenced his foes to defeat on Thursday, Nov. 20 in the $38,732 Exit 16W Pop Up Series final, completing a three-race sweep of the event for trotters four years old and younger at The Meadowlands.
The three-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Designed To Be made two moves to the front and stopped the clock in 1:53.1 for his eighth career win in 29 tries.
Herecomesdajudge left the gate quickly from post five in the seven-horse field and led at the quarter in :27.2. Bourbonista S (Vinny Ginsburg), the even-money Swedish invader who was so good a week ago in a narrow defeat Herecomesdajudge, moved up to challenge and take the front at the half in :55.1. But driver Tyler Miller handled the eventual winner aggressively, popping out of the pocket at the five-eighths, and Herecomesdajudge opened up a three-length edge at three-quarters in 1:24.4 before holding off a late-sprinting Dwood (Patrick Ryder) by a head at the wire. Walkwhileyourtalkn (Niko Karna) was third.
“[Bourbonista S] raced super last week,” said winning driver Tyler Miller. “But that horse didn’t look like he had much left in the tank, so I made the move right there.”
His lead was dwindling nearing the finish, but Miller was confident. “Once [Herecomesdajudge] saw that other horse, he took back off again.”
Despite winning both preliminary legs, Herecomesdajudge was sent to the gate as the 8-5 second choice and returned $5.20 to his backers. The sophomore colt is now five-for-19 this season.
“Best birthday present ever,” said winning trainer Julie Miller. “He swept the series by digging in in his last two starts. This horse is finally coming into his own. We are looking forward to his four-year-old season.”
Trainer Tom Cancelliere, fresh off a win in the FanDuel Championship Open Pace on Saturday night with Maximus Miki, saw his proteges win the other two Exit 16W finals on the card.
In the $35,211 final for two- and three-year-old male pacers, Doctor Arroganto came from off the pace to take down 4-5 favourite Dismas in a lifetime-best-equalling 1:53.1. The three-year-old gelded son of Papi Rob Hanover-Brazuca left the gate hard, leading at the quarter in :27.2. Driver Lauren Tritton then opted to sit behind Dismas (Joe Bongiorno), who took the field past the half in :56.1 and three-quarters in 1:24.1. But a series sweep was not on the cards for Dismas, who had racked up a pair of series scores from the pocket, as Doctor Arroganto rolled by him late to win by a half-length over the closing Captivated (Braxten Boyd) with Dismas getting third.
“He loses concentration very quickly,” said Tritton. “Tonight, he was different. He was ready to go.”
An improvement likely explained by an equipment change.
“I put Maximus Miki’s hood on him,” said Cancelliere. “It has cups on it and a hood, so he could see a little bit more. When [Captivated] was closing in late, the new equipment allowed him to see him coming and he sped up. He is still a green horse.”
Doctor Arroganto, who has now hit the board eight times in 13 lifetime starts, recorded his second career victory for owner-breeder John Cancelliere. He paid $9.80 as the 7-2 third choice.
Cancelliere’s Pinching Pennies rocked the tote board in the $35,211 final for two- and three-year-old filly pacers. The rookie daughter of Father Nuno-Showherthemoney raced midpack through :26.2, :54.1, and 1:23.2 fractions and entered the stretch fifth, but she got airborne late to take her first lifetime win in 11 starts. She paid $98.40 to win as the 48-1 second-longest shot on the board after completing the mile in 1:54.3, finishing a neck in front of 3-5 public choice Sweet Mary Lou (Ahle). House Blend (Tritton) was third. The winner is owned by breeder John Cancelliere.
Ginsburg and Ahle led the driver colony with a pair of winners apiece while Cancelliere’s double topped the trainers.
Big M TV veteran Dave Little saved his best for last on the nine-race program, giving out a winning ticket in the lone Pick-4 on the card, which paid $401.10, as well as the Late Daily Double, on which he had a $6 ticket for a return of $148.20. In total, Little’s followers cashed in for $549.30 on a $76 investment.
There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $2,530 for Friday’s card. Those with five correct collected $69.54. All-source handle on the nine-race program totaled $1,039,962. Racing resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(The Meadowlands)