Fresh off a five-win performance at The Meadowlands on Wednesday evening, Yannick Gingras captured
the Thursday evening feature – the $72,400 final of the Night Styles - at the New Jersey oval with a live catch drive named Lightning Treasure.
Ron Pierce was scheduled to handle the assignment, but Gingras picked up the last minute ride and made the most of it with the four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal.
Gingras hustled Lightning Treasure to immediate command from Post 9, and the Anthony Mannino trainee rolled the field to the quarter pole in :27.1. Gingras was unchallenged in the second quarter, and that allowed him to things down to the half in :56.4.
Challengers started their moves heading towards the final turn, and that’s when Gingras punched the accelerator. Lightning Treasure sprinted to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4 before uncorking a :27.4 final frame en route to the 1:52.3 victory over a hard-closing Temptress El. PW Michelle finished third.
“I know she been racing good, especially last week,” said driver Yannick Gingras. “I knew she was coming into the race sharp so I put her into play. My plan was to leave the gate from the time I had the drive. I was hoping to get covered up when I slammed on the brakes up front, but nobody came at me. I figured I won the race when I got the second quarter in :29.3. I think I’ve been driving horses great in the last few weeks; I’ve been putting them in the right spot.”
Lightning Treasure, who is owned by Lightning Stable of Roosevelt, NJ, now owns a 4-2-1 record from 10 trips to the gate this season. The lion’s share of Thursday’s purse boosts her career bankroll to $106,690.
To view Thursday’s results, click here.