As the all-time driver earnings leader in harness racing history, John Campbell has guided and won with many favourites. But Friday night (July 22) at The Meadowlands in the Kindergarten Series for two-year-olds, he made his fans jump for joy after steering two longshots to the winner’s circle.
Campbell scored with Sunshine Delight in the filly trot at odds of 11-1 and paid $25.60 to win, completing the mile in 1:56.3 for trainer Staffan Lind and owner James Wilhite Jr.
Saving his best for last, Campbell guided 39-1 chance Muscles Jared ($80.40) to victory lane in the colt and gelding trot in 1:56.1 for trainer George Ducharme and owner Alfred Ross.
Chalk players were not left out in the cold on this extremely warm night, however, as trotting colts Fly On ($2.10, 1:55.3) and Rubio ($2.20, 1:56.1) and trotting filly Grandmas Moni ($4.60, 1:55.2) scored in the other $10,000 Kindergarten divisions.
FROM WAY BACK: Fashion Creditor scored in the overnight feature, a $17,500 conditioned trot in the most exciting race all night, when five horses were less than a length apart at the wire.
The Tom Fanning trainee, who was driven by Brett Miller, was up in a driving finish after racing in a fifth-over flow at three-quarters. The four-year-old gelded son of Credit Winner completed the mile in 1:52.2 and paid $28.40 to win. Rules Of The Road, sent off at 14-1, finished a nose back in second.
CARRY ON: The 5th race 20-cent Jackpot Super High Five failed to produce a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to $38,241.19 for the next program. … Despite a smaller than usual pool in the 13th race finale, all-source wagering totalled $2,468,369. … Racing resumes at the Big M Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)