Three divisions of the Junior Trendsetter Series and a single split of the Tender Loving Care Series went postward during Thursday’s 10-race program at The Meadowlands, and three horses have put themselves in position to sweep their respective event
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LLC Delight, who was sent off at 25-1 in his $12,500 Junior Trendsetter assignment, knocked off 1-9 favourite Social Network in what turned out to be a career-best clocking of 1:53.4. In rein to Yannick Gingras, the three-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Jett Away hauled down the public’s overwhelming choice in the final strides en route to notching his third win of the campaign from just four trips to the track. Runner-up Social Network was a neck behind the winner, with the show dough going to Jimmy Whizbang.
Trainer Johnny Waite shares ownership on the gelding with Kimberley Waite of Camden, DE, and together they’ve watched the sophomore stash away $16,563 to date.
Take A Walk put himself in position to sweep the Junior Trendsetter thanks to his 1:52 triumph in the second division. The three-year-old son of I Am A Fool-Walk Of Shame, who won last week’s task in 1:55.1, parked past the quarter in a :27-second clip before taking charge and throwing down middle splits of :55.1 and 1:23.4 for driver Ron Pierce. The colt’s :28.1 closing panel was more than enough to earn him the win by 4-3/4 lengths in a lifetime best clocking of 1:52. Dead heating for the place position were Im The Pied Piper, who was sent off as the 3-5 favourite, and Upfront Countryboy.
Tony Dinges trains the three-time winner for The Whiz Kids Stable LLC of Dover, DE. He’s 2-for-2 this season after putting together a 1-for-3 campaign in 2011. The lion’s share of the purse lifted his earnings to $16,500.
Eastwood Blue Chip sped to a new lifetime mark of 1:53.1 for driver Dan Dube in the final division of the Junior Trendsetter Series. Dube made the move to the lead past the quarter pole with the three-year-old son of Dragon Again-Shes Smashing, and from there the gelding led through panels of :55.2 and 1:24.2 before using a :28.4 closing quarter to score the win over Big League and the traffic-troubled favourite, Arts Ideal Hanover.
Eric Ell of Denton, MD trains and co-owns the three-time winner, who has been perfect in the preliminary legs of the series, with John Emmons of Howell, NJ. The career winner of $35,106 is 2-for-2 this season after going 1-for-13 as a rookie.
Winning It brushed to the lead past the quarter pole in the lone $12,500 division of the Tender Loving Care Series, and that proved to be the winning move for the three-year-old daughter of Dragon Again-Day After Day. Yannick Gingras, who guided the filly to a 1:54.1 in last week’s opening leg assignment, had her on top three middle panels of :58 and 1:26.3 before using a :27.3 final frame to seal the deal over Jamie Sue in 1:54.1. Third prize went to Gottaseeaboutagirl.
The Ron Burke-trained lass will take a 5-for-5 record into the final of the Tender Loving Care Series. The filly, who is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and The Panhellenic Stb Corp, pushed her lifetime earnings to $21,825 with the win.
The $60,000 (est) final of the Tender Loving Care Series goes Friday, February 17, and the $75,000 (est) final of the Junior Trendsetter Series slated for Saturday, February 18.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.