Driver Tim Tetrick scored a natural grand slam in the first four races on the Saturday night program at Meadowlands Racetrack, which featured second leg divisions of the Stienam's Place and Escort Series
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Tetrick swept the early double with Mano Carnuto ($4.20) and Jet Set Hall ($2.80), followed by both $15,000 Stienam's Place divisions with repeat series winners P Note Blue Chip ($5) and Island Terror ($2.60). In the first split, Tetrick moved P Note Blue Chip into command past the half and she drew off to a career best 1:51.3 clocking. The daughter of Western Ideal-Ty Chi Hanover picked up her sixth victory in 25 starts this season for trainer Jerry Silverman and owner Marvin Rounick.
"I was told she wasn't very good on the front if you leave with her," Tetrick said. "Last week I had to race her first up and she fought all the way to the wire and got the job done today. It was kind of a have-to move and when I called on her she sprinted right away for me. It was an easy win for her today, she had a good mile and it didn't seem to take anything out of her."
Tetrick guided Island Terror to a decisive wire-to-wire score in the second Stienam's Place division. The Mark Kesmodel trainee lowered her mark to 1:52.1 while improving her slate to an impressive seven wins in 11 starts this season. Jeffrey Bamond owns the Western Terror-Hawaiianbeachlady lass.
After his four-bagger, Tetrick dashed off to drive Meadowlands Pace winner One More Laugh in the Messenger Stakes at Yonkers. They finished fifth in the race won by Rock N Roll Heaven.
The Escort Series for three-year-old colt pacers also shared the spotlight on the Saturday card. Schmucker and Indof's Ponda River eked out a victory over Rush Of Fools in the first of the three divisions. Driven by Pat Berry, the gelding lowered his lifetime mark by three full seconds to 1:51.2. Jeremy Howard trains the Red River Hanover-Very Fast Hanover gelding, who posted his second win in 21 starts this year.
"He was good tonight, but I got lucky," Berry conceded. "I was in a bad spot right away. It was a better trip then last week. I got to sit with him longer. He's fast and has more left in the tank, I think."
Repeat winner No Monkeys Allowed sailed to a 1:51.4 victory in the second Escort division. With Greg Grismore at the lines, No Monkeys Allowed fired out from Post 9 to take the lead and held off Artlight Hanover for a half-length tally. The son of Rocknroll Hanover-Weeping Wanabe notched his fifth win in 13 career starts for trainer Ron Burke and owners Joseph Di Scala Jr. and Cynthia Lynn Massari.
"It was a super effort," Grismore said. "I had to use him hard leaving, but I got a little breather in the third quarter and he fought hard all the way to the wire. I think his chances in the final are real good, especially if he draws better than this week."
Summer Camp romped to a personal best 1:51.2 victory in the final division with Jonathan Roberts in the sulky. The gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover-Roman Art notched his seventh win in 21 starts this year for owners Larry Baron and Vip Stable. Josh Green took over training duties for the pacer at the end of October.
"He was stronger at the wire than he was anywhere in the race," Roberts said. "Once I got to the front I was pretty much by myself. If he races like he did tonight he should do well in the final."
The Escort and Stienam's Place are two of the six series finals to be raced on Saturday, November 20.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)