Lmc Peanuts Watchn took the Saturday, Nov. 7 feature at The Meadowlands, a $22,535 claiming handicap for pacers in for a tag of at least $28,169 and no more than $35,211, in a lifetime-best of 1:50.3.
Let go in the betting as the 5-1 third choice one start after a solid second at 11-1 and a win before that at 2-1, the four-year-old gelded son of Hes Watching-Major Millie was sitting third from the start as All Alone (Jason Bartlett) and Juddy Douglas A (Vinny Ginsburg) raced one-two past the quarter in :27.1 and half in :55.3.
At the midway point, Herschberger called on the Chris Height-trained Lmc Peanuts Watchn, who went after the leader first up down the backside. Fans of the even-money favourite loved that, as Gallie Getaway (Dexter Dunn), who wore down Lmc Peanuts Watchn last week, picked up a live tow second-over as All Alone went past three-quarters in 1:23.1 while clearly in trouble.
With an eighth to go, Lmc Peanuts Watchn powered past the leader while opening up enough separation on Gallie Getaway to hold that one at bay easily by a half-length. Toto Hanover (Jonathan Ahle) was third.
“This horse has been sharp. Chris has done a great job with this horse,” said Herschberger. “As soon as he straightened up around the turn, he swelled up and took off.”
Lmc Peanuts Watchn, owned by James Slendorn, recorded his third win in his last four tries and 11th lifetime from 75 starts. He paid $12 to win.
There were four $14,084 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund races for two-year-olds of each sex and gait contested on the program. Goal Oriented (Perfect Sting-Sangaal), driven by Joe Bongiorno and trained by Joe Holloway, won the male pace in 1:51.3 for his second win from eight starts, paying $9.20 to win.
Hl Kapara (Chapter Seven-Sels Choice) took her third win in 10 outings by winning the filly trot in 1:54.4 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Harry Landy, returning $2.40 as the 1-5 favourite.
Barolo (Alrajah One It-Demasiado) was a 1:55.3 winner for driver Mark Herschberger and trainer Nancy Takter in the male trot, breaking his maiden in his sixth start. He paid $20.60 to win.
Perfect Body (Perfect Sting-Sweet Body) improved to five-for-12 as she captured the filly pace in 1:53.2 with Scott Zeron aboard for trainer Chris Choate. The win price was $5.40.
Herschberger led the drivers with three winners on the 13-race card. Brett Beckwith was off all of his drives nursing a sore wrist, the result of being in a spill in Friday night’s eighth race.
All-source handle on the 13-race program totalled $2,138,574. Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)