On a program that featured four $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Finals for two-year-olds, Every Way Out and Ariana G stood out as the dominant winners at The Meadowlands on Friday night (July 15).
Every Way Out won the colt and gelding pace by four and three-quarter lengths over Deo Galileo. Firefox Hanover was third.
The son of If I Can Dream led at every call, cutting out fractions of :28, :56.3 and 1:24.4, before sprinting home in :27.4 to record an easy 1:52.3 score for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Dylan Davis and owners Howard Taylor, Abraham Basen, Edwin Gold and Thomas Lazzaro.
As the 1-9 public choice, Every Way Out returned $2.10 to win and stayed perfect in three starts.
“He's got a pretty big motor,” said Tetrick. “Every time I asked him, there was plenty left.”
There was plenty left in Ariana G’s tank as well, as she rolled by seven lengths over Evelyn in 1:53.4 for her second win in as many starts in the filly trot. Feed Your Head was third.
The daughter of Muscle Hill, driven by Yannick Gingras and trained by Jimmy Takter, came uncovered around the far turn and blew her foes away as the 3-2 second choice, returning $5 to win. She is owned by Marvin Katz and Al Libfield.
Checkmate Time, the 6-5 favourite, got jammed up at the three-eighths and went off stride, finishing far back.
In the colt and gelding trot, What The Hill ($17.80) emerged victorious along the rail in deep stretch for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Ron Burke, scoring by a head over King On The Hill in 1:55.2. Fly On was third. The maiden-breaking Muscle Hill colt is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Our Horse Cents Stables, and J And T Silva Stables LLC.
Designated Drinker (by If I Can Dream) blew up the toteboard in the filly pace, gunning down 1-5 favourite Livinginthedream in 1:55.2 to record her first win by a neck for owner/trainer/driver Chris Lems at odds of 40-1, paying $82.40 to win. Wonderful World was third.
Lems picked a great time to record his first career driving win at the Big M.
“It could not have come at a better time,” said Lems.
LITTLE EXTRAS: Jeff Gural’s Little E LLC owned a half-dozen of the trotters in the NJSS finals. … The fifth race 20-cent Jackpot Super High Five did not have a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover for the next program to $35,773.41. … All-source wagering on the 14-race program totalled $2,590,736, which represents an increase of $193,482 over the corresponding card from last year, which had 13 races. … Saturday night’s huge Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace Night program has an early post time of 6:30 p.m. In addition to a star-studded stakes slate, the card also features a mandatory payout of the late Jackpot Super High Five, which has a carryover of $267,769.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack; Photos courtesy Lisa Photo - Top left, clockwise: Every Way Out, What The Hill, Designated Drinker, Ariana G)