The Friday program at The Meadowlands featured the B1/A2 Handicap Trot in race 11 and the opening legs of a pair of series.
Scratched down to a select field of six, the 11th race field was led by a pair of classy trotters in Not Afraid and Opening Night. It was Bambino Glide, however, who made it clear from the start that he was intent on the lead, seating Not Afraid in the pocket through a :26.3 opening quarter. While this was occurring, Opening Night found himself well off the lead, trailing the field.
Driver John Campbell was forced to pull Opening Night to the outside just three-eighths of a mile into the race as Marcus Miller slowed things down on the lead to the tune of a :55.2 half-mile before hitting three-quarters in 1:24.3.
While Bambino Glide was coasting along on the lead, Opening Night was forced to commit to a long, steady grind where he would find himself on even terms with the leader turning for home.
Meanwhile, Not Afraid, who was allowed to draft behind the pacesetter, was lurking in the weeds behind the two leaders. Brett Miller guided his gelding into the three-path where he towered up and wore down a game Opening Night to score in 1:52.4. Bambino Glide saved the show over a fast-closing Whata Donato.
Not Afraid is trained by Jimmy Takter for Christina Takter, John Fielding and Goran Anderberg.
The Friday card also featured the beginning of two series, the Cathedra Dot Com and the Flower Child. The Cathedra Dot Com is named for one of the finest race mares and broodmares of all time and Flower Child was one of the top Free-For-All trotters many years ago. Both series were contested by horses with six or more starts at Freehold Raceway, or horses classified at the C-2 level.
The first division of the Cathedra Dot Com appeared to be a layover on paper, but it took a photo finish to decide the result between 3-5 favourite Mojarra Hanover and 3-1 second choice The Summer Wind. Mojarra Hanover went right to the lead, establishing a :27.1, :54.2 and 1:22.4 tempo, while never facing a challenge. That changed in the middle of the stretch as The Summer Wind, who saved ground throughout, wheeled out and set her sights on Mojarra Hanover nearing the wire. The narrowest of margins separated the two mares at the finish and the win photograph revealed it was the nose of Mojarra Hanover on the wire. The 1:51.1 clocking equalled the winner's lifetime mark, which she established just one week ago. It was five lengths back to Fancy Pants Sandy in third. That made back-to-back wins for the Chris Scicluna-trained mare for lessee John Sheehan, who was also in the sulky for the victory.
The second Cathedra Dot Com division was a more wide open affair and the result supported that notion. In a surprise, it was 10-1 Kz Beach Girl, who traditionally races from well off the pace showing the most early speed, clearing the lead to the opening quarter in :27.1. Campbell then rationed out his mare's speed with a :28.2 second panel, before hitting three-quarters in 1:23.2. Throughout the race, Kz Beach Girl never faced an outside challenge and separated herself from pocket sitting Mistresstothestars in the stretch to win by three convincing lengths. Trevors Bebe checked in third. The winner was trained by Michael Forte for owner Ricky Bucci.
The third and final Cathedra Dot Com split closed out the Friday program with a field of nine. It appeared that the road to the winner's circle would have to go through Carolsideal, who was sent off as the 3-5 favourite for trainer/driver Jeff Dauplaise. His mare was pressing the lead through an opening quarter of :27.1, before being forced to yield to the pocket behind a backstretch-brushing Ideal A Little and Brett Miller, who got to the half-mile pole in :55.1 and three-quarters in 1:23.4. Carolsideal was the only mare with a shot at the leader turning for home and she pulled the pocket in the stretch, but could only make mild progress as Ideal A Little kept the favourite at bay, winning in 1:52.1 at 5-1. The win was the third on the card for Brett Miller for trainer Sam De Pinto and owners White Birch Farm and Shannon De Pinto.
The Flower Child got underway in the ninth race in a very contentious event. Captain Primeau was sent off as the 7-5 favorite, but interestingly Ake Svanstedt, who had his choice between Captain Primeau and 39-1 Vallas Cowgirl, opted to the latter. Neither would be victorious though as Helios, who appeared very rough on the far turn, was kept trotting impressively by Marcus Miller to score. The winner was shown racetrack in the stretch and rallied past pacesetting Americash Express, who had established splits of :28.1, :56.2 and 1:25.2. He then held off Dash For The Cash down to the wire. J Cs Jake rallied from well back to be third. Helios returned $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice. He is trained by Julie Miller for Little E LLC and Manzoscalia Racing.
The second division of the Flower Child was another competitive field, with Sina reigning as the 5-2 slight favourite at post time and she did not disappoint as Campbell put his mare in perfect position. Sina was allowed to settle off the pace, which was set by Perfect Picture originally through a quarter in :27.2, before Mr Ridgetaker cleared the lead while parking out Upfrontstrikesgold through a half-mile of :55 flat. Mr Ridgetaker then got another challenge from Perfect Picture, which allowed Campbell to place Sina in perfect striking position second over behind the speed at three-quarters in 1:24.2. When Perfect Picture began to tire, Campbell launched Sina three-wide and she rolled past the leaders, then held off the late-charge from Lad Pine at the wire. The winner is trained by Robert Bencal for Moon Goddess LLC.
The third division of the Flower Child kicked off the late Daily Double with the betting public deciding on McKenzies Star as their 6-5 betting choice. The mare was looking for her second win in three days, as she scored a neck victory at Harrah's Philadelphia on Wednesday. The early lead belonged to Hasty Proffitt, who established fractions of :27.2, :57 and 1:26.4. Arriba Amigo was forced first over until a space opened up to slide into the pocket behind the leader. The problem was McKenzies Star was drafting behind his cover and when Arriba Amigo moved to the pylons, McKenzies Star accelerated past Arriba Amigo and Hasty Proffitt to draw away convincingly in the stretch, tripping the timer in 1:55.4. McKenzies Star was driven to victory by Dave Miller for trainer Joe Holloway and owners Four Js Stable.
Despite a 45 minute delay, the on-track handle for the Friday program showed gains of 27 per cent on a beautiful night in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while total handle was up nearly 10 per cent. After the races, the party continued on Victory Terrace, which is proving to be one of North Jersey’s most popular hot-spots.
Breakfast with the Babies kicks off Belmont Stakes Saturday at The Meadowlands at 9:30 a.m. in Trotters, where breakfast is free to members and $7.95 for non-members. General Admission begins at 10:30 a.m. with the Belmont card getting underway at 11:35 a.m. At 11:30 a.m. the Victory Sports Bar Belmont Buffet begins. Victory Terrace and The Backyard both open at noon. Saturday night features Seafood Fest, which commences at 5 p.m. and includes a Peel & Eat Shrimp Contest. All these activities lead up to the Belmont Stakes post time at 6:52 p.m. for California Chrome’s quest for the Triple Crown. Shortly after the running of the Belmont, The Meadowlands 13-race program begins at 7:15 p.m. In addition to live racing, the Gilbert Gottfried comedy show in the gallery begins at 8 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)