The complexion of the featured $30,000 Open Trot on Friday night at The Meadowlands changed dramatically with the scratch of morning line favourite Meladys Monet. That left the role of the favourite in the hands of the entry, Lindys Tru Grit and Master Of Law, sent off at 4-5.
Neither was interested in mixing it up early, as Coffeecake Hanover showed good speed, but she quickly conceded the lead to Appomattox heading to the opening quarter in :28.1.
Team Six, who established position third on the pylons, made a move heading to the three-eighths pole and took over command down the backstretch. He would lead the field through a :56.3 half-mile.
Lindys Tru Grit began to roll moving into the far turn and challenged Team Six with a first over grind through three-quarters in 1:25.1. His entrymate, Master Of Law, tracked his cover into the stretch.
Team Six came up empty in the lane as Lindys Tru Grit wrestled the lead away and sprinted to the wire with Master Of Law in hot pursuit. They trotted to the wire together, with Lindys Tru Grit prevailing by a neck in 1:53.2. Coffeecake Hanover raced very well, trotting strongly through the stretch, emerging from in between horses to finish third.
The win was the second of the season for Lindys Tru Grit, driven by Andy Miller for his wife, trainer Julie Miller, and owners Lindy Racing Stable and Robert Rudolph.
A claiming mini-series for trotters with a claiming price of $12,500 was contested on Friday night at The Meadowlands as well, split in three divisions, with the top three finishers from each division and one fourth-place finisher (drawn by lot), advancing to a $20,000 final next week.
The first $7,000 division went to Fuel Cell (Corey Callahan), with Powerful Valor and Without A Clue guaranteeing spots in the final.
The second division saw Fox Valley Legend (Jimmy Marohn Jr.) power through from in between horses to score. That gelding was claimed by trainer Scott Didomenico. Pocket Passer and Dash For The Cash also advanced to the final.
The final division saw a 14-1 upset in the form of Northern Mattador (Scott Zeron), with Casanova Lindy and Free Rollin also qualifying for the final.
The fourth-place finishers hoping to join the nine automatic qualifiers are Keystone Wallace, Somolli Pirate and Marquesas.
The fifth race Jackpot Super Hi-5 was unclaimed, producing a carryover into the fifth race on Saturday of $28,624, while the last race Jackpot Super Hi-5 carryover has grown to $133,604.
Racing resumes on Saturday night with three series finals, the Charles Singer, Burning Point and Sonsam, featured on the 13-race program, which gets underway at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)