After an epic storm washed out the Saturday card, racing resumed Sunday at the Meadowlands Racetrack with the $20,000 second leg of the Horse & Groom
Series as the featured event.
P J Clark and driver Andy Miller wired the field in the first of the three divisions for conditioned trotters. Runner-up Hurrikanebiggeorge angled out of the pocket late to finish a half-length back, while Celebrity Hercules was a distanced third.
P J Clark trotted to a career best 1:53.4 over a sloppy track and paid $5.60 to win the afternoon's third race. The four-year-old son of Broadway Hall-Add A Lil improved his record to six wins in 22 career starts for trainer Laura Shock and Hauser Bros Racing of Orangeburg, New York.
Guiding Light, with Yannick Gingras, cleared the lead on the far turn and drew off to win the second Horse & Groom division by two lengths over Celebrity Playboy in 1:55.1. Saratoga National, who was never a factor, finished six lengths behind in third.
Guiding Light posted his first win in eight tries this season for trainer Bennie Magliochetti and lessee Florence Magliochetti of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Lifetime, the six-year-old Dream Vacation-Lighthouse gelding has now won seven of 29 starts and $70,000.
Looking Hanover, who was a 1:54.3 in the opening leg of the series, front-stepped to a 1:54.4 score in Sunday's third division for co-owner driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Edwin Gannon. The five-year-old son of Muscles Yankee was two lengths better than runner-up Hot Shot Blue Chip. Third prize went to Darlabar Man.
The victory improved the trotter's 2010 record to 2-3-0 in six starts. He has stashed away more than $227,000 to date for Gingras and partner Dawn Gannon of Dover, Delaware.
The $96,000 (est.) Horse & Groom Final is slated for Thursday, March 25.
(The Meadowlands)
To view Sunday’s results, click here.