Three-year-old pacing colts were in action on Thursday evening at the Meadowlands Racetrack, as the New Jersey oval hosted three divisions in the opening leg of the Junior Trendsetter Series
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Social Network took the opening division in a time of 1:53.4, winning by 5-3/4 lengths for driver David Miller. Sent off as the 2-5 favourite in the nine-horse tilt, the son of Tell All-Newsletter worked his way to the lead at the mid-way point and simply sped away from the competition in the late stages of the $12,500 contest. Bigtime Rush was next best, with Big League taking home the show dough.
Joe Holloway trains the two-time winner for the Val Dor Farms of Millstone, NJ. The pacer earned a 1:52.4 speed badge in his maiden-breaking victory at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack.
Take A Walk powered to the lead in the second quarter of his assignment, and once he cleared to the top it was game over. John Campbell carved out middle panels of :56.3 and 1:26.1 with the son of I Am A Fool-Walk Of Shame before using a :29-second kicker to seal the deal by 1-1/4 lengths over Rock Three Times. Third prize was earned by Mr Govianni Fra.
Tony Dinges trains the lightly-raced colt for The Whiz Kids Stable LLC of Dover, DE. It was the first start of the season for the pacer, who went 1-for-3 in last year’s freshman campaign. The 1:55.1 clocking was a lifetime best for the career winner of $10,250.
Eastwood Blue Chip turned in the quickest victory in the opening round of the series thanks to his 1:53.4 triumph in the third division. Ron Pierce hustled the son of Dragon Again-Shes Smashing through fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:26.4 before using a :27-second closing panel to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Im The Pied Piper. Sharkteen was a distant third.
Trainer Eric Ell of Denton, MD co-owns the two-time winner with John Emmons of Howell, NJ. Together they’ve watched the pacer put together a career record of 2-3-1 from 14 starts while banking more than $29,000 along the way.
The second leg of the Junior Trendsetter Series goes next Thursday at the Meadowlands Racetrack, with the $75,000 (est) final scheduled for Saturday, February 18.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.