Racing returned to The
Meadowlands in the form of a dozen qualifying races on the morning of Friday,
November 7. The races were contested on a fast track under overcast skies with
a fairly stiff breeze facing them in the home stretch and temperatures in the
low 50’s.
Race one fielded
freshman trotters and (does this sound familiar at all) Jimmy Takter ran
one-two with siblings to a pair of his more successful stars, driving Ferragamo
(full brother to Guccio) to a head win over Father Parick’s little brother,
Whom Shall I Fear (Yannick Gingras) in 1:58.4.
Valley Victory final
winner Pinkman was absolutely vicious this morning with a start to finish romp
in 1:55.1 with Gingras aboard for Takter. He sailed through the wind in 28.2
without being asked to finish the mile, widening to a six or seven length
decision over the good filly Livininthefastlane who finished resolutely under
minimal urging from Tim Tetrick.
Three year old fillies
were next up on the menu and NYSS champ Market Rally showed that she’s not just
a small track girl, “rallying” wide into the breeze from well back to get up
over Harley Momma (Jim Raymer) and Miss Liv (Andy Miller) in 1:56.1/29.3. Matt
Kakaley drove for the Ron Burke stable in this one.
Odds On Amethyst had a
good morning, leading all the way for Yannick while dominating a group of
sophomore square-gaiters in 1:54.3. Loose on the lead, as he prefers, the
Muscle Hill gelding sprinted a good 28 flat final panel as he moved away from
Opulent Yankee (A. Miller) and Journey (Dan Dube). Takter trains.
After a training break,
with less of a breeze now, Master Of Law got in a good prep in with
Takter. The imposing looking four-year-old sat in until the half, moved to the
lead before the final turn and held Your So Vain at bay in 1:56-/27.4
willingly. Your So Vain was ok in his first public appearance since the Cashman
on Hambo Day and held second, looking like he needed the work for Ake
Svanstedt.
Creatine looked strong
this morning in his first race with new designated driver Ron Pierce. He sat a
loose pocket behind the front-loving Sevruga through honest fractions, emerged
from the pocket and went by willingly in 1:54.3/29.1. Sevruga looked sound and
fit in his return to his favorite track and stable, racing again out of the
Julie Miller barn today, he held up well. Wishing Stone (Kakaley) was a
comfortable third.
Pacers were next and
Hall Of Terror held off the charge of four rival freshmen in 1:53.2/27.4
for Andy Miller in this one. Franzo, ASAP Hanover and Soto were all rallying in
the stretch, to no avail.
A mere quartet
of two-year-old filly pacers took the track for the ninth and Happy Becky
was the winner with Dave Miller aboard in 1:54.2 over pacesetter Zip Code Envy.
Sayitall BB cut the mile
in the tenth and held off the late bid of packet sitter Sandbetweenurtoes in
1:53-/28-. The winner has been lightly raced this season and with the
possibility of being supplemented to the Breeders Crown just might have a “say”
in the outcome. Kakaley drove for Burke Racing.
Bettor Believe It was a
powerful winner of race eleven for Andy Miller, holding off a determined bid by
the good Parnu Hanover after leading all the way in 1:52.4/27.3. He should
relish a shot at the NW 3 class when the meet opens next week.
The venerable Golden
Receiver toured the oval in 1:52.4 to close out the day’s events. He was racing
out of the Julie Miller barn for the first time and Andy returned to the sulky,
where he’s been for several of the old horse’s greatest moments.
Live racing at The
Meadowlands begins next Friday, November 14 with the return of harness
racing’s championship series, the Breeders Crown. The eliminations
are set for opening weekend and the $5.3 million finals on November 21
& 22.
