A pair of preferred events headlined Friday night’s card at the Meadowlands Racetrack with favourites Go On Bb and Swan Image scoring in their respective assignments.
In the $24,000 Mares Preferred Pace, Go On Bb and driver Yannick Gingras journeyed first over to capture the top prize in a time of 1:52.4.
The four-year-old daughter of Dontgetinmyway settled in fourth as Riley Rose (Daniel Dube) led the field through panels of :27.4 and :56.3. Gingras urged Go On Bb out and advanced through three quarters in 1:25. The 1-5 favourite stepped up to take the lead in the stretch winning by two and a quarter lengths.
Riley Rose stayed for second and U All Bb (Dave Miller) was third.
The consistent pacer, who is trained by Ron Burke, improved her record to 13-4-3 in 24 starts this year. Her 39th career win lifted her bankroll to $690,873 for owner Frank Baldachino of Clarksburg, New Jersey.
The win was one of two on the card for Gingras, who announced he would donate his earnings for the night to the track's annual Toys For Tots drive for the United States Marine Corps.
By the end of the 12-race card, Gingras had picked up checks in seven races and earned $1,436 for the charity. Purse money is paid out to the top five finishers in a race; harness drivers receive five percent of a horse's earnings.
Gingras netted $600 as he piloted Go On BB to victory. He was back in the winner's circle a race later with longshot Levitys Pride in a $14,000 conditioned trot, adding another $350 to the donation. Gingras also picked up checks in five other races with Crystal Bliss [second, $175] in the first, Rusty Again [third, $68] in the fifth, Victors Vicky [fourth, $96] in the ninth, No Money No Fun [fifth, $35] in the eleventh and The Maniac [third, $78] in the twelfth.
"I read on the website earlier this week that they were having Toys For Tots Night and that you could also give money [in addition to toys]," Gingras said, "so I decided to donate my five percent earnings tonight just for the kids. I've been really lucky with my children. They are both healthy. We're lucky in life, my wife and I, so I decided to give something back."
Gingras and his wife, trainer Vicki Mosher, have a three-year-old son, Jaiden, and 11-month-old daughter, Addison. The 29-year-old Quebec native is a third generation horsemen who now resides in Freehold, New Jersey. He has ranked among the Top 10 drivers since he began driving full-time at the Meadowlands in 2004. Gingras currently ranks eighth in earnings among all drivers in North America with $9.5 million through Dec. 12.
In the co-featured $24,000 Preferred Trot, Swan Image and driver David Miller rallied from off the pace to win in 1:56.
The five-year-old son of Balanced Image got away third as Ajs Send Money (George Brennan) set the tempo with a :27.4 opening panel. Sir Spitsbergen (Ron Pierce) moved from fifth to first leading the field past the :58 half-mile marker and third quarter station in 1:26.4. As the field turned for home, Swan Image began to fire up making her way in between horses to snag the win by three-quarters of a length.
Sir Spitsbergen was the runner-up while Dink Adoo (Eric Goodell) finished third.
Ross Croghan trains the 10-time winner who has earned $304,527 for owner Lawrence Roman of Mt. Vernon, New York.
To view Friday’s results, click here.
(With files from NJSEA)