Friday
night at The Meadowlands offered co-features with a top field of pacing mares
up first in the $25,000 A/B Handicap eighth race. JK Letitgo continued her form
spree for Delaware connections winning her seventh straight since her purchase
from the Tattersalls January Mixed Sale for a price of $65,000, earning a sub
1:50 record in the process.
The
Western Ideal mare was held off the pace by driver Jonathan Roberts as first
Lorrie Please then Pan Luis Obispo took turns on the lead through demanding
26.4, 54.1 fractions. Scandalous Hanover rolled up first over past the 1:22.4
three panels with JK Letitgo now in striking position at her flank. When
Roberts tipped her off the cover and fed her racetrack, JK Letitgo responded
and cruised by for the 1:49.4 win. Scandalous Hanover was game to hold the
place in her seasonal bow and Pan Luis Obispo was third.
The
winner has now returned her owners Nanticoke Racing, Joshua Parker, Barry
Spedden and Kevin Evans $57,500 on their $65,000 investment. Josh Parker is
also the mare’s trainer.
Trotters
took to the track for race eleven, a B-1/A-2 Handicap for a purse of $22,500.
The field was reduced to a half dozen with the defection of morning line
favorite Twin B Spike Man due to an injury.
For a
short field the action was hot with no fewer than four lead changes by the 55.1
half. Whata Donato wrestled the lead away from Sweet Justice just past that
marker and sprinted clear around the final bend only to jump off stride just
beyond the 1:23.1 three quarters, leaving a scrum for top honors in her wake.
Sweet
Justice stayed the course and fought off late bids by Drift Away, a very wide
Real Babe and World Cup splitting horses. At the wire, it was Sweet Justice a
clear winner in 1:52.1 for the returning John Campbell, his second on the
card. World Cup’s late bid got him the place and Drift Away got the show dough.
Sweet
Justice is trained by Bruce Saunders for M&M Harness Racing LLC of Suffern,
NY. He was winning for the first time since his stunning January 3 1:51.1 track
record performance, set with Campbell aboard.
Racing resumes on Saturday, with a 13-race program featuring
Finals of The Clyde Hirt and Horse & Groom Series. In addition,
Golden Receiver headlines a $30,000 Free For All pacing event. Post time
is 7:15 P.M.
Simulcasting gets an early start Saturday, as the gates open
at 8:45 A.M. for the Dubai World Cup Simulcast.
