Campbell Suffers Broken Wrist

Driver John Campbell was involved in a racing accident Friday morning (July 31) at the Meadowlands Racetrack during the raceway’s two-year-old qualifying session, and a follow-up report on the situation does not sound good.

A release from the Meadowlands this morning explained that Campbell was driving Drazzmatazz in Race 5 when he was dumped from his sulky along the final turn.

The chart lines from the race indicate that multiple horses were interfered with before the three-quarters of a mile pole. Usher, driven by Jimmy Takter, was charted with a break on the final turn, while Millbrook Hanover (driven by Ake Svanstedt) and Coughlin (Andrew McCarthy) were listed as being having been interfered with. Usher, Millbrook Hanover and Coughlin all finished up the track. Drazzmatazz and Campbell did not finish the race.

The Meadowlands release had stated that Campbell was up off the track quickly after the accident, and that he then went to get an x-ray on one of his wrists.

Harnessracing.com has spoken with Campbell, who has confirmed that the x-rays that were taken at a hospital revealed that he has suffered a broken bone in one of his wrists. Campbell also stated that he is going to consult his doctor to get a second opinion.

Campbell has said that he will not be in the race bike for his scheduled drives on Friday and Saturday.

Campbell was scheduled to drive eight mounts Friday, including Gifted Lady in a Jim Doherty Memorial two-year-old filly trot elimination. He also had a drive in each of the three elims for the Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters: Alexander Hanover, Encore Gold and Celebrity Pilatus.

Campbell's 11 scheduled drives on Saturday included Wild Honey, the 6-5 early favourite in one of the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations, Melody's Monet in the TVG Open Trot, and Doo Wop Hanover in the TVG Open Pace.

The qualifying race that Campbell was injured in (Race 5) was ultimately won by the Jimmy Takter-trained and Yannick Gingras-driven Zlatan, who stopped the clock in 1:57. Zlatan, a Muscle Mass colt that was purchased as a yearling for $37,000, is owned by Christina Takter, Herb Liverman and John and Jim Fielding.

The Friday two-year-old qualifying session was the final 2015 edition of the Meadowlands Racetrack’s ‘Breakfast with the Babies’ races. Officials with the track conveyed that a small crowd of dedicated racing enthusiasts showed up and enjoyed the weather, scarfed down some chocolate babka and watched some nice trotting and pacing prospects strut their stuff.

The qualifying session ended as it began: the Jimmy Takter Stable was the undisputed star of the show.

New Jersey Sire Stakes two-year-old filly trot final winner All The Time put on a public workout this morning for the Takter/Yannick Gingras team, cruising the oval in 1:57. The top Muscle Hill filly was not made eligible for the Jim Doherty Memorial, a good break for the competition in there, but likely a disappointment for her camp comprised of owner/breeders Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

Straight A Student took a nice record of 1:58.1, nailing Time To Talk in the last stride or two for driver Mark MacDonald. Paul Kelly trains the filly, a $65,000 Credit Winner Lexington buy for his interests as Paul Kelley Racing, along with partners Abraham Singer and Bill Weaver.

Takter drove his Donato Hanover filly Haughty to an impressive 1:56.4 win, displaying a good late kick, closing into the :28.3 final quarter. Takter bought the filly for the interests of Libfeld, Katz and Goldband for $80,000 at Harrisburg last fall.

Threeupthreedown was a front-end 1:59.4 winner in the first trotting colt race for Tim Tetrick and trainer Erv Miller. He’s a homebred son of Muscle Hill that is racing for the interests of Shim Racing and Mike Anderson’s Paymaq Racing.

Reigning Moni looked great during the morning session after the break, winning in 1:55.4 for Gingras and Takter in just the second start for the son of Donato Hanover. Gingras let him roll along through pretty good fractions and had more left, finishing in :28.1 to win by many. With the great Moni Maker a generation back in his pedigree, Reigning Moni is owned by a couple of her owners in KR Breeding, Preferred Equine along with Brixton Medical and Christina Takter.

Western Fame won the first pacing race for Gingras and Takter in 1:55.4. He sat in behind Headforthebeach and got by his foe late in the 28-second final quarter. He’s a Brittany Farms homebred Western Ideal colt.

Art Major colt Talk Show created a buzz all the way from Florida this winter, and he has done nothing to discourage that talk. Trainer Steve Elliott gave Talk Show a few weeks off after a 1:52.3 NYSS win at Tioga Downs and he looked sharp in his Friday morning mile. Driver Scott Zeron was subbing in for John Campbell. Talk Show went on to win his qualifier in 1:54.1 and closed with a :26.3 final quarter all on his own. Pegasis Racing, Team S Racing and Barbara Bongiorno own the exciting prospect that was a $40,000 buy in Lexington last fall.

Gingras and Takter would strike yet again with the Somebeachsomewhere filly Bring A Ring in 1:56.1. She opened up a long lead into the stretch and held on despite drifting out a few paths late. Bring A Ring was a $40,000 Harrisburg purchase by Christina Takter, John Fielding and Joyce McClelland.

The final two-year-old race of the 2015 season at The Meadowlands was taken by Shezarealideal and Andy Miller. The Western Ideal filly, who is already a PASS winner over at the Meadows, led all the way and closed the 1:55 mile with a :26.3 kicker. Darlinonthebeach was a restrained second and Call Me Queen Be third in a meeting of three stakes-winning fillies. Nick Surick and KDM share ownership of the winner who was bred by Nick’s mom, Debbie Surick.

Live racing will resume Friday at 7:15 p.m., highlighted by elimination races for the Peter Haughton and Jim Doherty Memorial freshman trotting classics.

(With files from the Meadowlands)