The $50,000 TVG Free For All Trotting Series, a Grand Circuit event, resumed on Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack and Market Share rallied from mid-pack to win his second of the season in as many starts.
A field of 10 with combined career earnings of nearly $12 million faced the starter and Knows Nothing was the quickest away. He yielded to Sevruga past the :27.1 quarter, but there was nary a moment's rest for that one as Uncle Peter came hard and Sevruga hooked him through a :27.1 third panel.
Market Share, away sixth, was following third over around the final bend, fanned off his cover and stormed home to a 1:51.1 victory half-length victory over Uncle Peter and Sevruga.
Driver Tim Tetrick had high praise for the 2012 Hambletonian winner in the post race exchange.
"He loves to track horses and go by," said the winning reinsman. "I felt if I could have him within four or five lengths at the top of the stretch he'd track them down. There is a really strong group this year with several four-year-olds that have already won in 1:51. It's going to be fun to watch them race all season. I think the possibility exists to beat 1:50 if the fractions set up right."
Market Share, trained by Linda Toscano for Richard Gutnick, Bill Augustine and the TLP Stables, picked up 35 precious points toward the $500,000G TVG Series final on November 30 at The Meadowlands.
The supporting features on Friday were the finals for the Flower Child and Cathedra Dot Com series.
The $22,700 Flower Child trotting final was won by 56-1 longshot Kenda, driven by Jim Marshall III in 1:54.2. Tom Clendining owns and trains the five-year-old Yankee Glide mare.
The $22,700 Cathedra Dot Com for pacing mares went to Crown Lady, the beneficiary of a perfect pocket trip from driver Corey Callahan. The 1:51.4 victory was the second win in four 2013 tries for owner Triple A Stable and trainer Ross Croghan.
Three-year-old trotting colt Lauderdale wired the Summer Survivor Series field in the $15,000 Semi-Final, winning in 1:54.2, for Callahan, trainer Jonas Czernyson and owner William Donovan.
Business-wise, the all sources handle on Meadowlands races was $2,415,076 which is an increase of $1,045,632 or 43 per cent over the 2012 figure and live in the building handle on the races was up 20 per cent over last year.
Tomorrow night's co-features will be the $25,700 Caramore pacing final and the camel and ostrich racing promotion at The Meadowlands. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)