Driver Tim Tetrick swept three of the five fall stakes finals on the Saturday night harness racing card at Meadowlands Racetrack
and ended the night with a total of five wins on the 13-race program.
Tetrick's hot streak began with Syenite ($11.20), who steamrolled to victory in the $47,400 Paul Doherty Memorial for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Syenite charged up to take the lead from Victom AS at the half and drew off to a career best 1:54 clocking. Classic Son saved ground early and finished second, while Oh No Its Steveo was third. Syenite, trained by Mark Ford, notched his fifth win in 16 career starts. Lenore Fazio purchased the son of Credit Winner-Syrinx Hanover for $35,000 at Lexington.
"I knew it was a long way to the wire and I knew I had to jump on him, but the colt raced good," Tetrick said of Syenite. "He got a little weak last week in 1:55. Tonight was his first start on Lasix, so I raced him the same way and he responded well."
Tetrick went on to steer Island Terror ($3.60) to a narrow victory over Star Keeper in the $50,400 Stienam's Place for three-year-old filly pacers. Island Terror brushed to the lead down the backstretch and held on by a neck to complete the series sweep in 1:52. P Note Blue Chip was third. Island Terror boosted her impressive record to eight wins in 12 starts this season. Owner Jeffrey Bamond purchased the daughter of Western Terror-Hawaiianbeachlady in June via Ongait.com, an online standardbred sale.
"We were racing all the way to the wire and it definitely was a close race," Tetrick said. "Star Keeper gave a good run at me, but my mare just dug in. She's got no quit in her, she's tough enough that's for sure. I don't think her best game is on the front end, but she had to be up there tonight. I think she's better following [horses]. First up doesn't bother her when she can see someone, but she gets a little lost up there and has a little attitude sometimes, but she digs in when she has to."
Tetrick capped his stakes run with Capri Hanover ($5.80) in the $46,200 Savilla Lobell for two-year-old filly pacers. The daughter of Western Ideal-Cindy B held off Whats New Pussycat by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. My Red Hot Mama capitalized on a second over trip to finish third.
"I just wanted to get around the last turn," Tetrick said. "I know John's mare [Campbell and Whats New Pussycat] really struggles in the turn. I thought if I could clear her going into the last turn, I'd have a great shot and it worked out that way."
Capri Hanover notched her fourth win in 13 career starts for trainer Jimmy Takter and owner Brittany Farms.
High Noon ($2.60), another Takter trainee, coasted to a three-length victory over Keystone Edge and Real Special in the $52,200 No No Yankee Final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. With Yannick Gingras at the lines, High Noon paced to a personal best 1:52.1 and improved his record to four wins in 12 starts this season. The son of Western Ideal-Dinah Classic was a $57,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Selected Sale by Takter's wife, Christina, John Fielding, Falkbolagen Ab and Riverview Farms.
"I wanted to be the last one to the front and that worked out," Gingras said. "I thought it would be pretty hard for them to catch me from there. He runs in a little bit sometimes so I figured if he were on the rail he'd be better off that way. I thought he raced well and he had plenty left in him, too. I was confident coming into the race. Last week was one of those races that just didn't work out for him at all and everything went wrong [broke stride and finished eighth]. I think he could be a good stakes colt next year."
Summer Camp ($8.00) sizzled to a 1:49.3 score after a lengthy battle with No Monkeys Allowed in the $57,000 Escort for thee-year-old colt pacers. Ponda River got up for second, while Meirs Hanover finished third after tracking his stablemate No Monkeys Allowed on the outer tier.
"I wasn't really surprised he went that fast," driver Andy Miller said of Summer Camp. "He got pressured pretty hard, but there's no quit in him. He just keeps digging right up to the wire. He showed a lot of speed early on, but he was just a little immature. I think he's got a big future because he really has a lot of go."
Summer Camp rolled to his eighth win in 22 starts this season for trainer Josh Green and owners Baron Racing Stable and Vip Stable.
To view Saturday's results, click here.
(Meadowlands Racetrack)