Trainer Ake Svanstedt and driver David Miller each celebrated big nights on Friday's card at The Meadowlands.
Svanstedt sent three horses to the post Friday night and his trio won all of their starts.
First, the second race, a trot carrying a non-winners of 2 condition went to Annapolis. Allowed to sit a pocket trip through fractions of :28, :56.4 and 1:26, Tim Tetrick guided his three year old filly up the pylons in the stretch where she sprinted past pacesetter Maximus Deo, who would fade to third, to score a decisive victory in 1:55 at odds of 6-1. Oneida rallied for the runner-up spot. It was the first of two victories on the card for driver Tim Tetrick. Annapolis is owned by Green Acquisition Corporation.
On the heels of Annapolis was Dreams Of Thunder, sent to the post at 4-1 with Matt Kakaley in the third race C-2 Trot for Svanstedt. Just like Annapolis before him, he turned a perfect pocket trip into an easy victory in 1:55.1. The win also sparked a Green Acquisition Corporation-owned daily double.
Svanstedt had to wait until the 11th race for his third start of the night, but Blixtra was worth the wait. Leaving hard from post 10 with Tim Tetrick, Blixtra made the lead through fractions of 27.2, 56 and 1:24.1 with Empress Deo in hot pursuit right behind her in the pocket. Turning for home, the even money favourite and the second choice, Empress Deo kicked away from the field and hooked up in a stretch duel where Empress Deo just could not get her nose in front of a game Blixtra as the favourite hung on in a lifetime best 1:51.3. Blixtra is owned by Courant A B and gave Tim Tetrick his third winner of the night.
The dice came up 10 early and often at The Meadowlands on Friday evening. In fact, four of the first six winners donned the number 10 saddle pad and five overall. One of which came in the sixth race, $16,000 B-2 Trot with Lindys Tru Grit who graduated from his C-1 victory in style with a repeat win at the B-2 level at 8-1. The race was hotly-contested with a speed duel through opening fractions of :26.4 and :55.2 with Here Comes Numbers and Cocotier battling on the lead. Modest Prince was launched three-wide on the far turn, with War Cry Hall just off his helmet. But, it was Lindys Tru Grit, stacked up fourth over through three-quarters of 1:24.1 who accelerated dramatically in the stretch and mowed down the field, drawing clear to win in a lifetime mark of 1:52.2. The winner was driven by Andy Miller for his wife Julie Miller and owned by Lindy Racing Stable and Robert Rudolph.
The other $16,000 B-2 Trot belonged to a drop and pop winner, Il Mago. Asserting himself early in the mile, Il Mago established fractions of :28, :57 and 1:26.1 before powering away in the stretch to win impressively in 1:54.1. The class drop paid dividends for the 2-1 favourite and driver Scott Zeron. Il Mago is trained by Mark Harder who co-owns the five year old son of Kadabra along with Chris Alexander Stables Inc.
Dave Miller also had a big night, winning five races on the Friday card, including four of the last seven races.
The fifth race Jackpot Super Hi-5 was hit for $12,101. That pool will start fresh on Saturday. The 13th race Jackpot Super Hi-5 will carry over into the Saturday program. That carryover now stands at $17,867. The 13-race Friday program sported a handle of $2,737,008.
To view the results from Friday's card of harness racing at The Meadowlands, click the following link: Friday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(with files from Meadowlands)