Martha Maxine seized command at the half and held off the sizzling stretch rally of Enhance The Night to win the first of two $40,000 Cape & Cutter divisions for open pacing mares Friday night at the Meadowlands
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Driven by Andy Miller, Martha Maxine was clocked in 1:51, posting a final panel of 26.1. Enhance The Night (Tim Tetrick) closed in 25.4 to finish a half-length behind, while the pocket sitter Go On BB (Yannick Gingras) was third. Martha Maxine paid $3.20 to win the night's second race.
Martha Maxine improved her record to 16 wins in 32 starts and surpassed $225,000 in earnings. Trainer Erv Miller shares ownership of the five-year-old mare with Tony Alagna and Brittany Farms.
Sportsfancy rallied from far back to win the second of the two $40,000 Cape & Cutter divisions, Race 8.
With Brian Sears in the sulky, Sportsfancy sat third-over and closed from sixth at the top of the stretch to catch Ideal Weather (Yannick Gingras) at the wire in 1:52. Chancey Lady (Daniel Dube) held third after challenging the pacesetter Mind Boggling (David Miller). Sportsfancy paid $7.40.
Larry Baron's Sportsfancy has now won 32 of 62 career starts and $657,398. Josh Green trains the five-year-old mare.
The $87,500 Cape & Cutter Final will be contested Friday, February 20.
In the $20,000 second round of the Exit 16W Series, Rocknroll Band rolled to his fifth straight win in 1:51.3 for driver David Miller and trainer Ken Rucker. Drive All Night (Tim Tetrick) drafted behind the winner and finished second, while Segundo Hanover (Yannick Gingras) secured the show spot.
Engel Stable's Rocknroll Band now looms the one to beat in the $73,800 Exit 16W Final next Saturday, February 21.
In the other series division, The Awful Truth and driver Tim Tetrick managed to catch the pacesetter, Major General (Andy Miller) to win by half a length in 1:51.3. Major Stone (Brian Sears) rounded out the top three.
Owned by Mary Craig, The Awful Truth took his first win of the year and 10th of his career pushing his bankroll to over $84,000.
In other action, Likeabatoutahell converted the perfect pocket trip into a victory in the $35,000 Invitational trot. With Brian Sears in the bike, the Trond Smedshammer pupil took the lead in the stretch and held off a hard closing Chick N Tell (Ron Pierce) for the win in 1:54.2 by a neck. The pacesetter, Starsel (Daryl Bier), finished third.
The six-year-old son of Sjs Cavier earned his first win of the season tonight giving him a total of 16 victories. Owned by Michael Andrew, Likeabatoutahell is nearing the $400,000 mark in earnings.
To view Friday's results, click here.
(With files from NJSEA)