Moonlit Dragon got up in the final strides to win the $50,552 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.
Driven by Eric Carlson, Moonlit Dragon sat well off the pace and rallied stoutly in the stretch to collar Gottaseeaboutagirl by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2. Blackjack Princess finished third after a duel with Notreadytobenice around the final turn.
Moonlit Dragon, trained by Bruce Saunders, paid $8 to win the Saturday opener. The daughter of Dragon Again-Moonlit Bay posted her first win in four starts this season for her Ohio connections, Robert Mondillo and Donald Robinson. She is now three-for-12 lifetime.
Bakin On The Beach rallied from the back of the pack to win the first of two $28,476 Reynolds divisions for three-year-old pacing colts. Driven by Mike Lachance, Bakin In The Beach bested Star Recruit by one and a quarter lengths in 1:51.2. Prince Shakra was third.
Bakin On The Beach improved his record to three wins in eight starts this season for trainer Mark Harder and co-owner Bruce Soulsby of Powell, Ohio. The gelded son of McArdle-Elizabeth Street set a mark of 1:49.4 two starts back in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Harder also won the $35,000 Invitational Pace with Golden Receiver. The seven-year-old gelding assumed command at the half and drew off to a two-length victory over AJ Corbelli in 1:48. Corey Callahan steered Golden Receiver to his 46th career win.
Verdad displayed true grit with a hard-won victory in the second $29,746 Reynolds split for sophomore colts. With Tony Hall in tow, Verdad put away challenger Divulge through a swift :54.2 half and sped away from the approaching favourite McErlean in the lane for a two and a quarter length victory. He paced the mile in a career best 1:50.3. Bullet Bob drafted behind the winner and finished second, while McErlean was third.
Verdad, trained by Ron Burke, has now won three of eight starts this year. Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Judith Taylor of Bala Cynwyd own the son of Western Ideal-Jennie Fanetta.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)