East Rutherford, N.J. - If Friday night was any indication, we are in for quite the speed
show on Meadowlands Pace night tomorrow. Tonight's card, populated
largely by C classes saw several sub 1:50 performances and with many of
the regular drivers off on remote assignments Scott Zeron (five
wins) and David Miller (four) stuck around and dominated.
On the race track, JK Letitgo continued her storybook season by
winning the $20,000 distaff feature for Howard Parker. She led at every call
and the wire arrived just in time for the daughter of Western Ideal to hang on
over Montenegro in a personal best of 1:49.3. JK Letitgo ran her seasonal
earnings to over $125,000 with the win for Nanticoke Racing, Joshua Parker, Barry
Spedden & Kevin Evans with Mr. Parker handling the training duties for the
partners.
Sweet Justice looked
like the second coming when he blew into town last fall, ripping through the
classes and lowering the track record for his group with a dazzling 1:51.1 win
in January. As often happens, racing at that level took its toll and owners
M&M Harness Racing then endured a few lean months with their Harrisburg
purchase.
To his credit, trainer
Bruce Saunders was able to right the ship and return the talented trotter back
to his winter form. Tonight, Sweet Justice was put onto play up the backstretch
and ground out a hard fought uncovered score over worthy adversary Not
Afraid and trotted right back to his record, this win in 1:51.2. Waiting
On A Woman was third.
This Indiana bred
gelding was exiting last week’s Hambletonian Maturity where he faced the very
best in a big field and found welcome relief facing the $25,000 A/B handicap
horses tonight. The win was part of a natural hat trick by driver David Miller,
taking races nine, ten and eleven.
Also taking part on the speed show were a pair
of pretty accomplished veterans that joined the sub :50 list.
Best Boss has been a solid earner throughout her
career for Pat Lachance, boasting receipts well in excess of $600,000 with a
1:51 record taken at The Red Mile four years ago. Tonight she took command
around the final turn and won in 1:49.2 for Vinnie Ginsburg. Pat owns her in
partnership with Ira Rosenblum and the aforementioned M&M Harness, who had
a good night.
Spender Hanover has been around awhile too,
answering the call to the post 184 times with 57 wins and over $300k to
show for his efforts. He had already lowered his record to 1:51.2 earlier
this season and took another whack off tonight for Miller forging to the front
past the half to win in 1:49.4. He's trained by Jeff Smith for Howard Ouriel.
Tomorrow brings with it
one of the most intriguing racing cards of the entire season, Meadowlands Pace
night. It’s an All-Star program from start to finish with over $2.5 million in
purses on the line and the quality of horseflesh to match. There is a special
early post time of 6:30pm and the Pace will be telecast live on CBS Sports
Network from 9-10pm.
