Katie Said was barely heard in the early going, but spoke loud and clear through the stretch Friday night, powering past her foes for a second straight week in the $25,000 Open Handicap Pace for fillies and mares at The Meadowlands.
The Jimmy Takter trainee was in no hurry for the first half-mile, sitting last in the field of seven off quick fractions of :26.4 and :54.2. Katie Said, the 3-2 co-favourite, was in a live third-over flow as Divine Caroline, also 3-2, had the front as three-quarters was clocked in 1:22.2.
Driver Brett Miller tipped Katie Said off cover as the field straightened up with three-sixteenths to go, and other than a little rocking in the sulky, Miller did very little as the five-year-old daughter of Well Said exploded home in :26.4 to win by a half-length. A pair of longshots, Lovineveryminute and Empress Deo, rallied for second and third, respectively.
The winner returned $5 to her backers in taking her second victory of the year in as many starts for owners Black Horse Racing of Lebanon, New Jersey. The time for the mile was a lifetime-best equalling 1:49.4.
The 12th race 20-cent Jackpot Super High Five did not get hit again, upping the carryover for the next program to $199,678.47.
Total wagering on the card was $2,679,045.
Racing resumes at the Big M Saturday. Post time for the first race is 7:15 p.m.
Next week, the Meadowlands will alter its schedule. The track will go dark for live racing Friday and then race Saturday (May 7) at the usual 7:15 p.m. before a special Mother’s Day program on Sunday, May 8, which has a special early post time of 12:40 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)