Meladys Monet overcome an uncovered trip in blustery conditions to return to his winning ways in the $27,500 Open Handicap Trot on Friday night, March 6, at The Meadowlands.
Driver John Campbell used a quick backstretch move around cloggers and Meladys Monet trotted right up to race favourite DWs NY Yank as that one eased through a :59 middle half. Once Meladys Monet headed the leader, he kicked home in a powerful :26.3 for the 1:52.4 score. Lindys Tru Grit rallied late to finish second and DWs NY Yank held on for third-place.
Meladys Monet had won five of six starts earlier in the meet. He briefly went to the sidelines in January with what trainer Kevin McDermott described as a quarter crack. The gelded son of Revenue S returned in spectacular fashion, defeating the top class of trotters by three lengths with a powerful stretch drive. He seemed to tail off from there, finishing a dull fifth in his next start before a sick scratch and a fourth-place finish one week ago. But tonight, Meladys Monet returned to his best form, equalling his seasonal mark of 1:52.4 with the compelling victory.
McDermott trains the winner for Melady Enterprises LLC of Pompano Beach, Florida. The connections of Meladys Monet have staked him to the Meadowlands Free For All Trot Stake Program, including the Arthur Cutler Memorial, John Cashman Memorial and TVG Free For All Trotting Championship.
Corey Callahan scored three wins on the program as his winter to remember continues. Callahan is currently the leading money-winning driver in the U.S. and sits third in the race for most wins.
Andy and Julie Miller teamed up for a pair of wins on the program, as did Jim Marohn Jr., who is having a breakout season at The Meadowlands and Rob Harmon.
The fifth race 20-cent Jackpot Super Hi-5 returned $4,824 for two winning tickets, but the jackpot remains unclaimed with a carryover into the Saturday program of $44,210.71. The 13th race Jackpot also carried over into the Saturday program. That carryover now stands at $154,649.
The 13-race Saturday program consists of the second round of the Buddy Gilmour Series, which features the intriguing match-up of Wiggle It JiggleIt against National Seelster. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)