On a cold
and crisp yet windless Friday night at The Meadowlands a couple of new shooters
took the $30,000 overnight features, both in front running fashion.
The top
trot was carded as race two and Twin B Spike Man handled his initial ascension
to the Free For All ranks with aplomb. A convincing winner against the B-1
class last week, Twin B Spike Man responded to a confident steer by Mike Simons
with a superb 1:51.1 mile, lowering his career best by over two seconds in the
process.
Sent up
hard after by Simons after DW’s NY Yank past the 55.1 half, Twin B Spike Man
cleared and kept rolling along through the third panel in 27.4 and widened his
advantage through the stretch to coast in by a half over Modern Family, who was
locked in but finished with very strong trot as the 9-10 favorite. DW’s NY Yank
checked in third.
At age
seven Twin B Spike Man has found his best form for the Mike Simons / Gail
Wrubel tandem, having eclipsed his 2013 earnings total already this season and
is now in excess of $45,000 in just seven starts. Simons owns the stable
star in partnership with Daniel Eccleston and Albert Abdella III.
The Free
For All debut of American In Paris went as well against the finest pacing mares
The Meadowlands has to offer. Yannick Gingras wheeled her from an early tuck in
third to wrestle the lead from Monkey On My Wheel after a snappy 26.2 opener.
From there it was a comfortable pace until very late stretch and the wire
arrived just in time to save a 1:50.3 decision over the fast closing Keepers
Destiny. Monkey On My Wheel saved third to complete a two / three sweep for
trainer Andrew Harris.
American
In Paris remained unbeaten in 2014 and the win put her over $100,000 in career
earnings. She races out of the Burke Stable and is owned in partnership with
Weaver Bruscemi.
Corey
Callahan won three races on the night, while Trace Tetrick, Scott Zeron, Dave
Miller and Yannick Gingras shared the wealth, all with driving doubles.
Total
handle for the Friday card eclipsed $3 Million at $3,181,196 for the 13-race
program. Racing resumes Saturday, with a 13-race card featuring Golden
Receiver who headlines a Free For All Handicap Pace and the second round of the
Buddy Gilmour pacing series. Post time is 7:15 P.M.
