Series action made up more than half of Thursday’s 10-race program at The Meadowlands Racetrack, as the New Jersey oval hosted the opening leg of the Night Styles for female pacers and the second leg of the Horse & Groom for male trotters and Syrinx Hanover for the trotting lasses
.
Miss Chip K knocked off the foes she faced in the lone $12,500 division of the Syrinx Hanover. Tyler Buter treated her to a second-over trip, and when he called on her for speed in the lane she had enough to secure the win.
Feegee and After Midnight exchanged punches to the quarter-pole in :29.1 before the latter forged her way to the top. After Midnight led them past the half in :58.1 before being pressed by race favourite Funny Fashion in 1:28.1. Miss Chip K kicked off cover halfway down the lane and out-kicked her foes to the line in 1:57.3. Funny Fashion and After Midnight were a lapped on second and third, respectively.
Charlie Norris trains the three-year-old daughter of Chip Chip Hooray-American Miss K for owner/breeder Bob Key of Leechburg, PA. The maiden-breaking performance helped pushed the sophomore’s earnings to $23,151.
The opening split of the $15,000 Night Styles Series went to Just A Glimpse in a career-best clocking of 1:53 for the Miller brothers – driver Andy and trainer Erv. The four-year-old daughter of Jate Lobell-Tarbeth Hanover hammered out panels of :28, :55.3 and 1:24.4 before using a :28.1 final frame to seal the deal. Tu Sei Bella was a fast-closing second, with the show dough going to Buck Stops Here.
Kentuckiana Racing Stable of Lexington, KY bred and owns the five-time winner who bumped her overall bankroll to $81,199.
Gottaseeaboutagirl unleashed an impressive stretch rally en route to taking home top honours in the second division of the Night Styles Series in a career-best clocking of 1:54.1. Race favourite CS Kentucky supplied sensible speed intervals of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.4, but she couldn’t fend off the determined bid of Gottaseeaboutagirl who used a :27.4 closing kick to prevail for David Miller. CS Kentucky held on for second, while Weekend Update took home the show dough.
Bob Rice trains the three-year-old daughter of Western Terror-Minnie Driver for the partnership of Michael Horn, Charles Bonham and Alexander Rice, Sr. She now owns a 3-1-0 record from six trips to the track this season, and the $8,000 payday boosted her earnings to $22,100.
Fountainbleau Volo romped to victory in the opening division of the Horse & Groom Series, and in doing so he pushed his winning streak to three-in-a-row for trainer Jeff Dauplaise. David Miller tucked in third with the gelding who watched Luvyabutleave supply a :28-second opening fraction. Miller was on the move in the backstretch, and he easily made the lead with Fountainbleau Volo who ripped through middle splits of :56 and 1:24.1 before using a :29-second closing panel to win in 1:53. Westside Lindy was the runner-up, with third prize going to JB Oui Oui.
The four-year-old son of SJs Caviar-Blue Water Fly is a 10-time winner from 22 lifetime starts for Dauplaise, who shares ownership on the square-gaiter with Mendy Taffel of Floral Park, NY. He’s managed to stash away more than $113,000 to date.
Marcus Bi survived a first-over journey and won the second split in a career-best clocking of 1:54.1 for trainer Rich Bilach. Dan Dube allowed the gelding to settle into an early four-hole while Live Jazz and race favourite Cameron Chip battled to the quarter-pole in :28.4. Cameron Chip brushed to the top in the backstretch and proceeded to hit the half in :56.1 before being pressed by Marcus Bi to the three-quarter marker in 1:24.3. Marcus Bi used a :29.3 closing quarter to wear down Cameron Chip, who finished second. Third money went to Hes Spooky.
Tracy Lynn Cortese of Howell, NJ holds the ownership papers on the four-year-old son of Supergill-Guinea Bi, who went 7-for-13 last season. The victory was the first of the season in four tries for the career winner of $117,137.
Here Comes Numbers chased big speed for driver Brian Sears and simply flew by tired horses in the lane en route to an eye-catching score in 1:54.1 in the final division of the Horse & Groom Series.
The Nik Drennan-trained gelding watched Tigers Too Good hit the quarter in :27.4 before Jessesjo marched to the lead and threw down middle panels of :55.4 and 1:25.2. MMs Lucky Boy was first over and challenging around the turn, and hot on his heels was Here Comes Numbers. Sears showed his charge racetrack and the four-year-old son of Here Comes Herbie-Northern Style took off. His closing quarter of :28.2 earned him the score by 4-3/4 lengths over Tober, with Pembroke Heat Wave rounding out the top three.
The OSS graduate, who is owned by the DDT Stable of Burlington, ON, now boasts a 2-3-0 record from seven trips to the track this season. The $9,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $150,730.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.