If Friday night was any indication, we are in for quite the speed show on Meadowlands Pace night tomorrow. Tonight's card, populated largely by C classes saw several sub-1:50 performances and with many of the regular drivers off on remote assignments, Scott Zeron (five wins) and David Miller (four) stuck around and dominated.
On the race track, JK Letitgo continued her storybook season by winning the $20,000 distaff feature for Howard Parker. She led at every call and the wire arrived just in time for the daughter of Western Ideal to hang on over Montenegro in a personal best of 1:49.3. JK Letitgo ran her seasonal earnings to over $125,000 with the win for Nanticoke Racing, Joshua Parker, Barry Spedden and Kevin Evans with Mr. Parker handling the training duties for the partners.
Sweet Justice looked like the second coming when he blew into town last fall, ripping through the classes and lowering the track record for his group with a dazzling 1:51.1 win in January. As often happens, racing at that level took its toll and owners M&M Harness Racing then endured a few lean months with their Harrisburg purchase.
To his credit, trainer Bruce Saunders was able to right the ship and return the talented trotter back to his winter form. Tonight, Sweet Justice was put onto play up the backstretch and ground out a hard fought uncovered score over worthy adversary Not Afraid and trotted right back to his record, this win in 1:51.2. Waiting On A Woman was third.
This Indiana-bred gelding was exiting last week’s Hambletonian Maturity where he faced the very best in a big field and found welcome relief facing the $25,000 A/B handicap horses tonight. The win was part of a natural hat trick by Miller, taking races nine, 10 and 11.
Also taking part on the speed show were a pair of pretty accomplished veterans that joined the sub-1:50 list.
Best Boss has been a solid earner throughout her career for Pat Lachance, boasting receipts well in excess of $600,000 with a 1:51 record taken at The Red Mile four years ago. Tonight she took command around the final turn and won in 1:49.2 for Vinnie Ginsburg. Lachance owns her in partnership with Ira Rosenblum and the aforementioned M&M Harness, who had a good night.
Spender Hanover has been around awhile too, answering the call to the post 184 times with 57 wins and over $300,000 to show for his efforts. He had already lowered his record to 1:51.2 earlier this season and took another whack off tonight for Miller forging to the front past the half to win in 1:49.4. He's trained by Jeff Smith for Howard Ouriel.
Tomorrow brings with it one of the most intriguing racing cards of the entire season, Meadowlands Pace night. It’s an All-Star program from start to finish with over $2.5 million in purses on the line and the quality of horseflesh to match. There is a special early post time of 6:30 p.m. and the Pace will be telecast live on CBS Sports Network from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)