Rockin Wizard got his nose on the wire, literally in a thrilling photo finish in the $22,500 featured condition pace at The Meadowlands on Saturday night.
With four horses across the track at the finish, Rockin Wizard just got to the wire in time, holding off the fast-closing longshot, Fool Me Once, who was rallying up the pylons.
Sweet Rock was launched to the lead and reached the opening quarter in :27.2, but on the backstretch Dave Miller guided Rockin Wizard to the outside and launched their bid for the lead, which they would claim shortly before the :55.4 half-mile. Rockin Wizard led the field around the far turn, with Sweet Rock in the pocket and Ontario Success advancing on the outside. Sweet Rock pulled pocket through three-quarters in 1:23.2. In the stretch, Rockin Wizard was called on for everything he had, Sweet Rock was trying to get to the leader, Fool Me Once found room at the pylons and Smart Rokker rallied off cover. The four of them would race to the wire together, with Rockin Wizard gamely holding onto the lead and earning the victory in 1:51.
The win was one of three on the program for Dave Miller. Rockin Wizard is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Majs Ny Inc., Gerrie Tucker and RBH Ventures Inc.
Thats My Opinion, the $350,000 yearling, made his first start of his four-year-old campaign a winning one, scoring a 1:51.2 triumph in non-winners of four company.
Released at 5-1 in his comeback, Thats My Opinion showed good speed off the gate, securing a pocket position behind the speed of Murder He Wrote. Driver Scott Zeron was content to remain in a stalking position from the pocket with his four-year-old gelding throughout the mile, allowing Murder She Wrote to establish the early pace, posting fractions of :27.2, :54.4 and 1:22.4. Murder She Wrote carried Thats My Opinion all the way into the stretch, when the first over bid from FF Bigshow stalled, allowing Thats My Opinion to rip out of the pocket and wear the down the early leader to grab the victory.
The win was the sixth for Thats My Opinion, who was sent out by trainer Tony Alagna for Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco and Little E LLC.
Windsong Gorgeous found the winner's circle for the fourth consecutive week. After back-to-back wins for the Virgil Morgan stable, ‘Gorgeous picked up the victory for Mike Watson tonight, the eighth victory for the eight-year-old gelding already this season. He was claimed once again for $35,000 and will return the Morgan barn once again.
On the track, ‘Gorgeous was a one-horse show, going right to the top, leading through fractions of :27.4, :56.1 and 1:24 before turning for home and accelerating once again when Ballinrobe came out of the pocket to challenge the leader. But Windsong Gorgeous promptly dismissed Ballinrobe and then fended off the late rally of Panchester United to win in 1:51.1. Windsong Gorgeous got his picture taken with owners Melvin Fink and Clifford Grundy tonight.
You Bet Your Glass rebounded in the $10,000 Claiming Dash for the “G” Notes Final, scoring a victory out of the pocket for Corey Callahan, who had a big night winning five races on the program. The win was timed in 1:51. Trained by Robert Breshnahan Jr. for Lee Cotroneo, You Bet Your Glass scored his third victory of the season and made amends for his defeat as an overwhelming favourite the week before.
The fifth race Super Hi-5 carryover continues to grow, with the carryover pool now at $71,506 and the last race carryover is now $35,827.
Racing returns on Friday, with first post time at 7:15 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)