Chancey Lady capitalized on a ground-saving journey to upset Native Bride by a neck in the $40,000 second round of the Cape & Cutter Series Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack while In Over My Head and Lisagain captured their respective Exit 16W Series divisions
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Driver John Campbell and Chancey Lady yielded to Flirtiscape (David Miller) around the first turn and were shuffled into third as Ginger And Fred (Tim Tetrick) took command before the half. They remained on the pylons as Native Bride (Brian Sears), the 1-5 favourite, angled out behind them and locked up in a duel with Ginger And Fred around the final turn. Native Bride began to draw clear by mid-stretch, but could not hold off Chancey Lady as they hit the wire in 1:51. Chancey Lady, trained by Mark Kesmodel, paid $33 in her first win of the season.
The five-year-old daughter of Camluck races for the estate of her late owner, Niele Jiwan. She now has 22 wins from 53 career starts and earnings of $1.2 million.
Chancey Lady and the rest of the Cape & Cutter field will tangle in an $80,000 final next Friday, February 19.
The second round of the Exit 16 W Series was also contested Friday night with victories going to In Over My Head and Lisagain.
In Over My Head and driver Brian Sears skimmed the pylons to win the first of the two $20,000 splits in 1:51.2. In Over My Head sat third on the inside while Woodstock Hanover (George Brennan) carved the fractions up front. The leader folded at the top of the stretch and In Over My Head out-sprinted pocket sitter Majestic Jackpot (Ron Pierce) in a final quarter of :26 seconds flat for a half-length victory.
A four-year-old son of I Am A Fool-Blue For You, In Over My Head is now two-for-two in series action at the Meadowlands. The John Butenschoen trainee had a prolific sophomore season, winning seven of 23 starts and nearly $200,000. His biggest paycheck came in the $225,000 Windy City Pace, in which he upset the field at 55-1, on November 22, 2009 at Maywood Park. Shawn Swenson of Madison, WI, who co-owns the pacer with his uncle Greg Carey, writes a blog following the travels and triumphs of In Over My Head at http://inovermyheadracehorse.blogspot.com/.
An early miscue by even-money favourite Real Joke (Andy Miller) cleared the way for Lisagain to pick up the spoils in the second Exit 16 W division. Lisagain was sitting third on the pylons when Real Joke made an uncharacteristic break in stride moving to the lead at the quarter-pole. Magicmaker Hanover (Brian Sears) was next to make a bid, but also failed to clear the lead from Stand By Cam (Ron Pierce). George Brennan tipped Lisagain out on the final turn and he drew off to a 3-1/4-length victory in 1:52.4. Sri Panka (Yannick Gingras) closed for second, while Real Joke recovered to finish third.
Lisagain improved his record to seven wins in 23 career starts for trainer Erv Miller and owners Mystical Marker Farms and John Carver.
The $73,800 (est.) Exit 16 W Final is Saturday, February 20.
To view Friday's results, click here.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)