It seems Swan Image is fixed on keeping his record pure after a seven-month layoff. Trained by Ross Croghan, the five-year-old son of Balanced Image took his second straight win in the $24,000 Preferred Trot on Friday at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
With David Miller in the bike, Swan Image settled in fourth from Post 9 as Med Vac (Andy Miller) crawled past the first quarter in :29. Dink Adoo (Brian Sears) tipped out from third and moved to the front of the field before the half in :58, but soon after Swan Image brushed up for the challenge and the two marched past three-quarters in 1:26.3. In mid-stretch, Swan Image spread his wings and sped away for the win in 1:55 by one and three-quarter lengths.
Beach Nut Brand (Cat Manzi) came on for second and Dink Adoo finished third.
In 11 starts this year, Swan Image has recorded five wins and four seconds banking over $120,000. In his career, he has picked up 11 wins with earnings totaling $316,527. Lawrence Roman of Mt. Vernon, New York owns the bay trotter.
After a two-horse win photo, Pancleefandarpels was declared the winner of the co-featured $24,000 Mares Preferred Pace for trainer Erv Miller.
Leaving from Post 6, Andy Miller and Pancleefandarpels tucked in the two-hole as Symphony In Motion (Brian Sears) led the field to the first quarter in :27.3. The favourite, Chancey Lady (Daniel Dube), moved to the front from third and reached the half in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:23.2. With a length and a half lead, it looked as if O'Brien Award finalist Chancey Lady had sealed the deal, but Pancleefandarpels used a late burst of speed to seize the win by a nose in 1:51.4. Symphony In Motion stayed for third.
In her best season to date, the four-year-old Noble Ability mare has put together a record of 10-7-2 in 30 starts banking over $200,000 in purse earnings. In her career, Pancleefandarpels has recorded 18 wins with $440,361 in earnings for the Peter Pan Stables of Pepper Pike, Ohio.
The total handle from all sources wagered on Meadowlands races on Friday, December 26 was $4,054,847 - the highest Friday night total of the year. The previous high for a Friday card this year was $3.8 million, handled on April 4. The last time more than $4 million was bet on a Friday Meadowlands card was February 3, 2006 ($4.3 million).
To view Friday’s results, click here.
(With files from NJSEA)