A smorgasbord of stakes was served up Saturday at The Meadowlands, with rookies sparring in the Fall Four finals and their older pacing and trotting counterparts clashing in the finals of the TVG Series.
Here’s a recap of the rich events:
$175,000 TVG Mares Trot
Hannelore Hanover was a repeat winner in the TVG Mares Trot for the tandem of driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke.
The multi-talented trotting lass was treated to a dreamy trip in the two-hole behind Emoticon Hanover. That Luc Blais trainee rolled through fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:26 before being confronted and then overtaken in the lane by Hannelore Hanover. The pocket-sitting sprinted home to win in 1:52.3 over Emoticon Hanover and Caprice Hill.
The five-year-old daughter of Swan For All-High Sobriety won for the 10th time this season and for the 36th time in her career. Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and J And T Silva Stables LLC share ownership on the career winner of $2,643,519.
$350,000 TVG Open Trot
What The Hill exited the sophomore ranks to take on some of the sport’s gritty veterans, and he produced a pylon-skimming score to give Ron Burke back-to-back stakes scores on the card.
David Miller had What The Hill on the lead at the quarter pole in :27 before race favourite Crazy Wow popped the pocket and shot to the lead. Crazy Wow cruised through middle splits of :55.3 and 1:24.2, but he had little to offer when he arrived at the head of the lane. What The Hill manoeuvred up the cones and trotted home to win in 1:51.4 over Dayson and Pinkman.
The son of Muscle Hill-K T Cha Cha improved this year’s record to 9-1-2 from 18 starts with the victory for the partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Our Horse Cents Stables, J And T Silva Stables LLC and Deo Volente Farms. The 12-time winner boosted his career bankroll to $1,347,749 with the win.
$381,000 Three Diamonds
Youaremycandygirl, sent off as the second choice in the wagering, went down the road for the white-hot team of driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke.
Hustled to the lead from Post 10, Youaremycandygirl sprinted to the quarter in :26.2 before being pressed by race favourite Kissin In The Sand through middle splits :53.2 and 1:21.3. Kissin In The Sand backed away and Youaremycandygirl used a :29.2 closing panel to win in 1:51 over Reign On Me and Rainbow Room.
“I think she’s proven herself to be one of the best two-year-old fillies ever,” said trainer Ron Burke.
It was a seventh consecutive win for the daughter of American Ideal-Sweet Lady Jane who now boasts a 9-for-11 record this season. The career winner of $952,545 is owned by W J Donovan of Pompano Beach, FL.
$420,750 Goldsmith Maid
Plunge Blue Chip didn’t let a first-over trip keep her from finding the winner’s circle for the ninth time in her career for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt.
Dab Hanover pressed out from Post 7 and took the field to the quarter in :27.2 before the pocket-sitting Hey Blondie swung out and grabbed the lead in the backstretch. She hit the half in :56 before coming under attack from race favourite Plunge Blue Chip. It was Plunge Blue Chip showing a short lead on the outside at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3 and she used a :28.2 closing frame to stop the clock in 1:53.1. Dab Hanover was second with Lily Stride finishing third.
The daughter of Muscle Mass-Dunk The Donato extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row for Ake Svanstedt Inc and Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. The star of the New York Sires Stakes program lifted her lifetime earnings to $415,208 with the win.
$175,000 TVG Mares Pace
Pure Country was treated to a ground-saving trip and she had plenty of pace to chase in the TVG Mares Pace, and those factors helped propel her to an impressive win for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Jimmy Takter.
The four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Western Montana dropped into the three-hole while Darlinonthebeach rocketed to the lead and rolled the field through solid fractions of :27, :54.1 and 1:21. MacDonald angled off the rail in the lane with Pure Country, and after hauling down Darlinonthebeach she paced to the line in 1:49 while fending off a late charge from Bedroomconfessions. Darlinonthebeach was third.
Diamond Creek Racing of Wellsville, PA owns the 25-time winner who now owns a 5-3-1 record from 16 trips to the track this season. The lion’s share of the purse bumped her overall cash stash to $2,413,901.
$411,000 Governor’s Cup
Lost In Time grabbed the bull by the horns in the backstretch and he dug down deep to fend off a determined bid in the lane from Stay Hungry to capture a thrilling edition of the Governor’s Cup.
American History shot to the top and put up the :27.1 opening panel, but Scott Zeron stepped on the Lost In Time’s accelerator, and the colt sprinted from third to first on the way to the half. Lost In Time led them past the mid-way point in :55.3, and he quickly came under attack from the first-over Stay Hungry. Those two battled to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.1, and they continued to wage war all the way to the line. Lost In Time’s closing quarter of :27 was enough to earn him the decision over Stay Hungry in 1:50.1. American History grabbed the show dough.
“I’ve only had him for a few weeks,” said Takter. “I could see right away he’s a very nice horse. We were unable to train him much for last week (when sixth in his elimination) because we scoped him and he had some mucous. He was not really prepped for that race. We let the hopples out a little bit tonight and lengthened the overcheck a little bit and that made a big difference.”
It was the ninth start of the season for the rookie who now owns a 5-2-0 record for the partnership of A Rocknroll Dance Racing, Denny Miller, William Rufenacht and Team S Racing Stable. With the win, Lost In Time has now banked $697,375 to date.
$464,650 Valley Victory
After a disappointing performance in last month’s Breeders Crown, Fourth Dimension bounced back in a big way to sweep the Valley Victor elimination and final for the team of driver Brian Sears and trainer Marcus Melander.
After front-stepping his way to a 1:55 score last week, the son of Chapter Seven-Corazon Hanover parked past the :27.1 opening quarter before clearing and setting middle fractions of :56 and 1:25.2 in tonight’s rich final. He stormed home in :28.1 to win in convincing fashion in 1:53.3 over Wolfgang and Samo Different Day.
“He’s very athletic,” said winning driver Brian Sears. “A very good-gaited colt. He’s a little eager at times but he definitely has the talent. (Over the winter) he has to keep maturing physically and mentally and learning there are times when we have to relax and not be too aggressive during the race and know what we are trying to accomplish out there. And it doesn’t mean we have to be on the front end every week.”
The win improved his record to 8-1-0 from 11 starts for Courant Inc of Delray Beach, FL. Purchased for $200,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, the youngster has racked up over $400,000 to date.
$350,000 TVG Open Pace
A key third-quarter breather helped Mach It So produce a front-stepping win for driver David Miller and trainer Jeff Bamond, Jr. in the TVG Open Pace.
All Bets Off sliced out the first quarter in :26.2, but the parked out Mach It So forged to the lead shortly past that first post and he went on to speed through middle fractions of :54.4 and 1:23.1. Miller grabbed some lengths on the field coming off the final turn, and Mach It So’s :26.1 closing quarter was just enough to earn him the 1:49.2 victory over a late rushing Mcwicked. All Bets Off completed the Trifecta ticket.
The seven-year-old son of Mach Three-Beach Dancer is now 6-for-26 this season and 40-for-120 in his career. Bamond Racing LLC of Brick, NJ owns the career winner of $2,479,352.
(With quotes from Meadowlands)
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.