With series action heating up and some more recognizable
names populating the entries, Saturday nights at The Meadowlands are beginning
to feel more event-like.
Golden Receiver is back and delivered a gallant 1:49.3 win
in the $30,000 FFA, out gaming Dovuto Hanover to the wire after having been
headed by that one in mid-stretch. Corey Callahan had Golden Receiver on the
good foot off the wings, crossed over before the first turn and was on a clear,
comfortable lead past the half in 54.2. Dovuto Hanover had beaten Golden
Receiver two weeks ago with an extended hard brush and driver Tim Tetrick
attempted to repeat that bull rush strategy tonight. Dovuto won the stretch
battle for several strides, poking his head in front temporarily before
eventually losing the war.
Golden Receiver was winning for the sixtieth time in his
storied career for owners Our Horse Cents Stable and Nina Simmonds. Mark Harder
has his stable stalwart prepared for another successful campaign.
The $20,000 first leg of the Clyde Hirt series split three
ways and division one opened the evening’s card with a surprise winner in
Ontario Success. The two post time favorites dueled through the first turn with
Burkentine Hanover wrestling the lead from Sea And Ski just past the 27.4
quarter. When the pace slowed slightly as they neared the half, Sea And
Ski got rough-gaited in the pocket and broke. Scott Zeron had placed Ontario
Success well back early, moved behind live cover third over and swept by
in the shadow of the wire for the 1:51.2 score.
The
winner returned $15.80 and coupled with 40-1 bomb Summer Smackdown second and
mid-priced Stars Above third the $1,447 trifecta got the night off to a
lucrative start for the few lucky ticket holders.
Ontario Success is owned by Emerald Highlands Farm and
trained by Tony O’Sullivan, who came right back to win the second division of
the Hirt with another Woodbine shipper, Avatartist.
Driver David Miller employed the “Go to the front and
improve your position” strategy with Avatartist, clearing quickly from the
outside post eight and sent an even pace throughout. Favored Andrew Luck
pressed the leader around the final bend and before succumbing and dropped the
place photo to Teresa’s Beach. Avartist became harness racing’s latest 1:50
performer with the win for owners William Hill, Peter Harrison, Mike Saftic and
James Walker all from north of the border.
The third division of the Clyde Hirt came down to a nose
photo and the nose on the wire was Wake Up Peter. The 3-5 favorite, Wake
Up Peter, sat a second over trip around the far turn which was paced in 27
seconds flat and used every inch of The Meadowlands stretch to just nail CC
Heet Seeker on the wire, who cut the fractions at 17-1. For Wake Up
Peter, it was the fourth win in as many starts and the third consecutive since
Larry Remmen purchased him for owner Bradley Grant at the January Tatersalls
Sale. The driver of Wake Up Peter had a big week as Scott Zeron won seven
races over the three-day span at The Meadowlands, including three on tonight’s
program.
Total handle for the Saturday program was $3,354,414 which
included slight gains on-track.
A reminder that The Meadowlands has added a live racing
card and will race this coming Thursday, March 20th, with first post
time at 7:15 P.M.
