One of Callahan’s four wins came with Cane Ridge, who lived up to the favorite’s role in the $60,850 Rags To Riches final, reducing his lifetime record to a flat 1:50- in the process.
When the opportunity to race mid-level overnighters for a purse this large, the pace figures to be contested and that was surely the case here.
Callahan
had hinted at his intentions during his "In The Sulky" interview
before the card began and Cane Ridge sports an awful lot of "1's" in
his past performance lines.
Cambassador, second choice in the wagering, presented driver
John Campbell few options from post ten other than to blast out and take
his medicine. The price was a steep one, as Cane Ridge was keen to go on and
carried Cambassador through demanding consecutive 26.2
quarters before grudgingly surrendering the lead passing the half.
Callahan
popped the favorite back out when the field caught up and the flow began to
form and cleared back to the lead before the 1:21.2 third split. Though weary
from the speed, Cane Ridge held off the close of Tamayo
by the scantest of margins. Cambassador held bravely
for third.
Trainer Doug Dilloian, Jr. was rightfully proud of the effort when interviewed post race. "He's been great throughout the series and he did it the right way tonight. I think he's earned at least one shot against conditioned types after this race."
It was another big night at the betting windows at the Meadowlands, as the 13 race program easily eclipsed the 2012 handle figures and the $3 Million mark once again. The $3,398,819 wagered on the Saturday program was an increase of 29 percent from the same Saturday a year ago.
*
Racing returns on Friday with the Night Styles series and post time at 7:15
P.M.
