Its That Time utilized a perfect third-over trip to take the $25,000 second leg of the Four Leaf Clover Series Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack
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Driven by Daniel Dube, Its That Time [$21.00, $7.80, $5.80] was relaxed in seventh as the field moved down the backstretch, but moved third-over to reach contention on the far turn.
As the field entered the stretch, Dube moved his charge four-wide and Its That Time responded and paced home strongly to win by one and three-quarter lengths in a career-best 1:49.4.
Lucky Man and Tim Tetrick [$4.60, $3.40] also rallied strongly to be second, 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Southwestern Dream and John Campbell [$3.40] who held on gamely for third.
It was the tenth career win for Its That Time, who increased his career earnings to just over $290,000 for owner Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida and trainer Mark Kesmodel.
The Four Leaf Clover Series wraps up next Saturday, March 21 with the $132,000 Final.
In the weekly Invitational Pace, double millionaire Maltese Artist [$4,20, $2.80, $2.40] rallied from first-over to take the winner’s share of the $31,500 jackpot.
Driven by Brian Sears, the eight-year-old Ron Burke trainee got away third from Post 1 while Toucam Sam (Dube) secured the lead on top before reaching the first quarter in :27.3. As that one passed the half-mile marker in :54.4, Riggins (Tetrick) tipped out from fifth flushing Maltese Artist out in front by three-quarters in 1:22.1. Using a :27.1 final frame, Maltese Artist pushed ahead of the pack down the lane. The odds-on favourite stopped the clock in 1:49.3 giving Sears one of four wins on the card.
Montecito N and George Brennan [$11.20, $4.80] closed well finishing three-quarters of a length back in second while Riggins [$2.80] rounded out the top three.
Maltese Artist’s second straight win and 36th of his career lifted his bankroll to $61,600 for 2009. The Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania and James Koran of Macedonia, Ohio hold the papers on the Artiscape – Hula Dancer bay.
Trainer Casie Coleman also had a productive night at the East Rutherford oval sending three winners postward from her barn. Teaming up with driver David Miller, Quandary Hanover (1:51.2) prevailed in the third race and All Shuttle (1:51) scored in the ninth before Ready For Battle N (1:50.4) capped off the night with a win in the 11th dash.
With 59 wins this year, Coleman is currently ranked third in North America for wins. The resident of Cambridge, Ontario has recorded 1,066 victories in her career.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.
(With files from NJSEA)