M1 - Meadowlands Barn Notes - February 3, 2012

Jersey Pride Night Set For Saturday at Meadowlands

Meadowlands Racetrack is encouraging fans to show their hometown spirit Saturday night at the races.  Fans who wear NY Giants gear will receive free general admission and program.  Plus, the most festive fans will be chosen to present trophies in the winner’s circle. 

Townslight Hanover Ready To Step Up In Aquarius

A well-managed sophomore campaign has Townslight Hanover heading into the Aquarius Series in peak form this weekend at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The son of Bettor’s Delight, trained by Aaron Lambert is rated as the 4-1 second choice in the $35,000 first leg of the Aquarius for four-year-old pacers, carded as Saturday’s fifth race.  Hall of Famer John Campbell gets the assignment from post two in a field of 12.  

Townslight Hanover was a New York Sires Stakes champion as a freshman, winning the final in a Yonkers Raceway track record for geldings of 1:54.  Last year, he banked $284,668 and pushed his lifetime earnings to $463,845 for owner Kenneth Tucci of Woodridge, NJ.  He lowered his mark to 1:51 at Pocono Downs.

“Townslight was a little below the top three-year-olds last year, but he finished a close second in the Cane Pace,” noted Lambert, 44.  “He didn’t get the best trip, yet he picked up a big piece of it.  He also finished a good second to Hugadragon in the Monument Circle at Indiana Downs.”

Those efforts prompted Lambert to give Townslight Hanover a shot against top tier horses. 

“We could have gotten back into the New York Sires Stakes, but we missed quite a few legs because we wanted to give him a shot at some stakes like the Confederation Cup where he finished fifth.  He wasn’t even supposed to race against those horses, so he’s really been a little gift.  It’s safe to say we maximized his earnings potential.  We just tried to pace him last year when he only made 18 starts.  There were no issues.  We picked and chose our spots with him, and we kept him fresh.”

Townslight Hanover prepped well for Saturday’s Aquarius with a strong second on January 21. 

“I was really pleased with that mile and the way he’s come back,” Lambert said.  “Hopefully, we can toughen him up and it looks like he’ll be a contender in this series.  He’s better when he comes in fresh.  We’re going to try him against the big boys in the Ben Franklin, which is at Pocono Downs this year ($500,000 final is Saturday, June 30).” 

Lambert, a former assistant to Australian compatriot Noel Daley, comes off a career best season in 2011 with $846,514 in purses won.  

“I have moved along at a steady pace and everything is going pretty well right now,” Lambert said.  “I’ve got 19 horses at the moment and I’m stabled at Winner’s International in Chesterfield, NJ.  Woodstock Hanover (1:50.3, $315,050) had a minor fracture in a socket behind and had to be turned out for six months.  He’s back in the barn and just swimming.  Mr Massimo (1:49, $361,161) needed some freshening up and he’s back in training.  Mcclelland (1:50.1, $219,561) was a little sick and had a quarter-crack, so he’s off this week while we take care of that.”

Alberg Takes Meadowlands Tournament

Scott Alberg, the 2006 National Harness Handicapping Champion, once again showcased his prowess for picking winners in a qualifying tournament held January 28 at the Meadowlands.

The Washington Township, NJ resident, who sells his picks online (4NJPicks.com), nailed five winners on the card and finished the tournament with a $1,054 bankroll, securing him the $4,360 top cash prize and an entry into the inaugural World Harness Handicapping Championship, to be held in early 2013 at Woodbine.

The qualifier format required players to bet 10 Meadowlands races of their choice, working from a $100 bankroll.  Wagers had to meet a $10 minimum per race, with no maximum.  Contestants could only bet one horse per race and wagers could either be win, place or a combination of the two.

This is Alberg’s third tournament win, with previous titles coming in the 2006 NHHC final and a 2008 qualifier, in which he connected on 8 out of 10 winners.  Alberg also finished second (by only a few dollars) in the 2010 NHHC Final.

January WHHC Qualifier Standings

Rank	Name	Bankroll	Prize
1	Scott Alberg	$1054	$4,360 (Plus $1875 WHHC seat)
2	Mike Koehne	$563	$2,180 (Plus $1875 WHHC seat)
3	Joe Barre	$399	$1,635
4	Kathleen Nash	$367	$1,090
5	Ira Sobel	$359	$545
6	Debbie Kilpe	$331	$218
7	Agustin Toscano	$273	$218
8	Lou Knigge	$260	$218
9	Dave Kilpe	$217	$218
10	Tiffany Bush	$212	$218