It was one of the
biggest upsets in the past decade, when Arch Madness defeated Donato Hanover in
the Breeders Crown Elimination for three year olds at The Meadowlands on
November 17, 2007. That win by Arch Madness established a track record
for three year old gelded trotters at The Meadowlands, a record that stood for
six years and 26 days until Sweet Justice took to the track Friday night at the
East Rutherford oval.
Sweet Justice's career
began far from the spotlight of The Meadowlands, racing for Steve Carter on the
Indiana Fair circuit. His first win came in his second lifetime start,
but wasn't close to any records, winning in 2:13. In short time, Sweet
Justice made it to the pari-mutuel races. The highlight of his two year
old season was a second place finish in the $200,000 Indiana Sire Stakes Gold
Final at Indiana Downs.
Sweet Justice made his
three year old debut on May 8th of this year at Hoosier Park and battled his
way through the Indiana Sire Stakes program, picking up minor awards, including
a fifth place finish in the Sire Stakes Gold Final at Hoosier.
Prior to being entered
in the Harrisburg Mixed Sale, Sweet Justice scored a pair of victories,
including a 1:54.1 lifetime best effort in a three year old Open at
Hoosier.
Despite entering the
sale with over $180,000 in earnings, when the gavel fell the sales price read
just $25,000. The buyer was Bruce Saunders for M&M Harness Racing.
Since Sweet Justice walked into the sales ring at Harrisburg, everything
has gone right.
He made his Meadowlands
debut in qualifier, flashing strong late kick, coming home to a third place
effort with a 27-second final quarter. He won his first pari-mutuel start
at The Meadowlands by a neck in 1:54 before moving up the class ladder to win a
B2/B1 Handicap by open lengths in 1:53.4. That brings us to Friday night
, where Sweet Justice moved up to face older horses. Not only did he show
grit and determination, refusing to relinquish his lead in the stretch, but he
tripped the teletimer in 1:52 flat, lowering the previous record for a three
year old gelding, held by Arch Madness by two-fifths of a second.
From here on, the
challenges for Sweet Justice will only get tougher, but every time he races,
his future looks brighter.
