Bryan Quevedo celebated his first career training win on Friday, March 29 at The Meadowlands with pacer Just A Rocket Man prevailing in the evening's second race, an $11,487 Trackmaster Series division for pacers with a rating of 71 or less.
Winless in eight prior starts this year, Just A Rocket Man launched from the pocket with a quarter-mile to go and won in 1:55.2 by 1-1/4 lengths over Native Chief and Unsettled Business. The six-year-old son of Hes Watching was driven by Braxten Boyd and paid $9.60 to win as the 7-2 third choice.
Bryan Quevedo is congratulated by his father Edwin after his first career training win.
Quevedo, whose father Edwin worked for top Thoroughbred trainers before turning to the Standardbreds a decade ago, began his own training career last month and made his third start a winning one. The 20-year-old horseman claimed Just A Rocket Man last August at Running Aces and recently took over the training duties from his father for the milestone win.
McCarthy takes four Trackmaster Series tilts
Dave Miller might be the leading driver at The Meadowlands, but Todd McCarthy was the man during March, and with Miller not racing this weekend, McCarthy locked up being the leading driver during the month after winning four times in Trackmaster Series action on Friday night at the mile oval.
Heading into the final card of the month on Saturday, McCarthy has 21 wins from 96 starts, good for a win percentage of 22. The ‘Hot Toddy’ scored with three favourites and one double-digit winner on the night, and had only 11 starts on the program, with three of the dashes restricted to members of the Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club.
McCarthy began his big night in the third race by guiding the Izzy Estrada-trained The Will To Play to an easy 1:53.4 score in a TrackMaster Series event for pacers with a rating of 74 or less. The four-year-old gelded son of Shadow Play was the 1-5 favourite and returned $2.40 to win.
Win No. 2 came in race five with 1-2 public choice Lettuceriprita A, a 14-year-old gelding by Aces N Sevens, in 1:56.2 in a TrackMaster Series dash for pacers with a rating of 71 or less. The Paul Blumenfeld student returned $3 to his backers.
The 31-year-old pilot steered 2-1 chalk Roma Amor to victory lane in the ninth race for trainer Michael Posner in a TrackMaster Series pace for fillies and mares with a rating of 73.5 or less. The four-year-old mare by Lazarus N returned $6.20 after completing the mile in a lifetime-best 1:54.2.
McCarthy saved his best for last, scoring in the 14th race finale with 4-1 third choice Its Rockin Randy in a lifetime-best equalling 1:52.3 for trainer Carl Tirella in a TrackMaster Series division for pacers with a rating of 74 or less. The six-year-old bay gelding by Always A Virgin returned $10.80 to win.
Another Trackmaster Series division for pacing fillies and mares with a rating of 73.5 or less went to Paige Perfect and driver Marcus Miller. Trained by Bruce Saunders, the four-year-old daughter of Always B Miki sparked a $49.20 payout with a 1:56 upset victory.
Outside The Fire, a five-year-old gelded son of Cantab Hall, won the featured $21,622 conditioned trot as the even-money favourite in 1:53.3 for driver Andy Miller and trainer Anette Lorentzon.
All-source handle totalled $3,445,558 USD on the 14-race program, giving The Big M 20 nights where handle has exceeded the $3 million mark from 24 cards during the year.
Racing resumes on Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from Standardbred Canada & Meadowlands Racetrack)