Obrigado made his debut in the TVG Free For All Trotting Series a winning one on Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack, scoring in impressive fashion in 1:51.3, a lifetime-best performance.
Last week in an Open event, Obrigado found himself locked in throughout the mile while crying out for racing room in the stretch. Mark MacDonald made sure that wouldn't happen this time, putting his gelding in the game early in the $50,000 third leg of the $1.2 million series. But Obrigado had to work hard early on, parked out by DWs NY Yank, the 9-5 favourite, and the two raced in tandem past the quarter in :26.3. Shortly after the trotters turned into the backstretch, Obrigado cleared the lead and it was a lead he would not relinquish. MacDonald effectively backed his trotter down to a :55.3 half-mile before reaching three-quarters in 1:25.1, completely a tepid :58.3 middle half-mile. In the stretch, Obrigado simply out-sprinted the field, kicking home in :26.2 to complete the triumph. Flanagan Memory rallied to finish second with Meladys Monet overcoming traffic trouble in the stretch to finish third.
Obrigado is co-owned by his trainer Paul Kelley, Linwood Higgins and William Weaver III and Stable 45.
Corey Callahan got the jump on 'Driver of the Week' honours, finding the winner's circle five times throughout Friday night's card.
Callahan didn't waste any time, winning the first two-year-old event of the season at The Meadowlands, with the John Butenschoen-trained Ideal Rocky, a Rocknroll Hanover colt that cost $47,000 at the Harrisburg yearling sale. Callahan and Butenschoen teamed up again later on the night, winning a condition trotting event with the Currier and Ives winner, Suit And Tie. 'The Captain' also scored with B Stern in wire-to-wire fashion in a condition pacing event for fillies and mares at 13-1. He also guided Beach Story to a strong win in a very tough upper-level condition pacing event for mares and steered Tirade Hanover to a well-meant win in a competitive middle level condition trotting event.
With the five wins, Callahan moved into the top-five in The Meadowlands drivers standings.
The fifth race Jackpot Super Hi-5 survived another night despite a 15-1 upset and that carryover will be $168,564 into the Saturday program. The last race carryover swelled to $149,836 as well.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)