Summerlike conditions greeted fans at The Meadowlands on Saturday evening (June 10), with temperatures in the low 80's bringing out a large crowd for the annual Beerfest and Battle of the Burgers.
Odds On Equuleus (Vinny Ginsburg) made it back-to-back Big M scores with a win in the feature, a $17,500 conditioned event, unleashing a wicked 26-second final kicker to rally up in time for a three-quarter length win in 1:48.4.
Mr Ds Dragon (Christian Lind) blasted off the wings to take the early lead, with Iwillmakeyousaywow (Daniel Dube) taking a two-hole tuck past the opening quarter in :26.4.
Shortly after the field settled up the backstretch, driver Jordan Stratton was on the attack first-over with the New Zealand-bred Iammrbrightside N, who was imported to the U.S. in early spring. Ontario Success (Dan Charlino) followed that live cover up second-over, with the 9-5 slight favourite Odds on Equuleus setting things up third-over in the flow.
Mr Ds Dragon continued to stand tall after putting up crisp fractions, by the half in :54.1 and three-quarters in 1:22, but it was ultimately Odds On Equuleus who tipped four-wide down the lane and made up the four-length difference from sixth to out-sprint his rivals and hit the line first in 1:48.4. It was the 20th victory of his career and a season's best effort.
Mr Ds Dragon held on for the second spot, with Iwillmakeyousaywow staying on late to be third.
Odds On Equuleus, a seven-year-old son of Art Major, is owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Tony Alagna.
Total handle on the 11-race card was $2,349,707.
Live racing continues at The Meadowlands on Friday and Saturday nights with a first post of 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)