Sonofamistery was winless in three tries this year, and in each start he came from off the pace, so driver Brian Sears tried something different this time around and it worked to perfection in the Friday night feature at The Meadowlands.
Sonofamistery’s driver knew what was coming. His trainer? Not so much. “My horse has raced pretty well the last few weeks,” said Marcus Melander. “But I actually always thought he is better from off the pace chasing down horses.”
Sears fired Sonofamistery away from post four in the nine-horse field in the $50,000 Open for trotting three-year-old colts and geldings, and would catch a big break early on, as 6-5 favourite Really Fast went off stride in the first turn. That left Sonofamistery with the front all to himself.
Racing the first two splits in an identically timed :27.4, Sonofamistery was then able to rate the third fraction back to :28.1 to hit three-quarters in 1:23.4.
The son of Muscle Hill-Mistery Woman was then able to finish the job by three-quarters-of-a-length in a lifetime-best 1:51.2 with a little more good fortune, as Lindysmusclemania, who sat a pocket trip from the start, had good momentum while inching closer to the eventual winner nearing the finish only to go off stride with less than 50 yards to go. Lindysmusclemania was disqualified from second and placed fourth as a result. Calle Palema and In Range (another Melander trainee) were placed second and third, respectively. Really Fast finished eighth.
“This might have been the first time my horse raced on the lead,” said Melander. “and he looked good doing it. I never ask Brian what his thoughts are before the race. It was totally up to him. I think my horse is fast enough to go in the Hambletonian. He beat some nice horses tonight.”
As the fourth choice in the betting, Sonofamistery returned $15.60 to his backers while lifting his lifetime stats to four wins from 12 starts, good for earnings of $82,750 for owners S R F Stable and Holly Lane Stud East.
Racine Bell, a four-year-old daughter of So Surreal-Tys Artist, took the $30,000 second leg of the Kissin In The Sand series for Open filly and mare pacers in wire-to-wire fashion for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer David Dewhurst in 1:49.1, a lifetime best. Even-money favourite Lyons Sentinel closed late to miss by a head. Racine Belle returned $11.80 as the third choice in the betting.
One shrewd player raked the entire pot in the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 and cashed in for $13,111.38. Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
(Meadowlands)