37-1 Upsetter
Lights Up The Tote Board in Meadowlands Feature
East
Rutherford, NJ (December 13th) - Ignored on the tote board at
37-1, The Real One lived up to his name and pulled off the upset of night,
winning the A-2/Free For All Handicap Pace with Scott Zeron. Taken back
early in the mile, The Real One was allowed to sit sixth, well off the strong pace
set by the 6/5 favorite Speed Again, that included a 26.1 opening quarter and a
54-second half mile. Brett Miller pulled Wake Up Peter to the outside
approaching the half-mile pole and made a strong first over bid from last,
which allowed Scott Zeron to guide The Real One off the pylons and positioned
himself just off the helmet of Brett Miller and Wake Up Peter. Following
that cover all the way to the top of the stretch, The Real One tipped off cover
through three-quarters of 1:22.2 and out-sprinted the field to the wire to
score in 1:50.1. Wake Up Peter went a big first over mile and dug in
gamely to be second. Speed Again fought tenaciously to the wire as well
to be third, with Dapper Dude a close fourth and Doctor Butch a traffic troubled
(once again) fifth. The entire field finished with two and one-half
lengths of each other. The Real One established a new lifetime mark with
his 1:50.1 timing for owner Helene Fillion and trainer Pat Lachance.
The most impressive
effort on the racing program may have come from K-Lees Shakenbake who emerged
victorious in the eighth race C-1 pace. Sent off at 5-1, K-Lees
Shakenbake was last moving into the far turn and stacked up fourth over turning
for home, some six lengths off the lead. Scott Zeron simply pulled on the
right line and the moment his gelding saw racetrack his response was
instantaneous, ripping through a 26-second final quarter to win going away in
1:51.2. Among those left in his wake was the 3-1 favorite, Hurrikane
Kingcole, making his first start in nearly 11 months for John McDermott.
He raced well, making a strong first over move and finishing a solid second in
his comeback. K-Lees Shakenbake scored for trainer David M. Smith and
owners Randall Bendis and Thomas Pollack.
Brick Bazooka, who
is likely pointing toward winter late closer events, remained unbeaten in four
starts winning the first race on the card, a non-winners of 2 pace. Sent
off as the 1/9 favorite, Brick Bazooka and John Campbell took command nearing
the open quarter and never looked back, leading through fractions of 27.2, 55.3
and 1:24.3, before tripping the timer in 1:53.1, equaling his lifetime
mark. Ironbarbassy was second and Call Me Muddy was third. The
three year old gelded son of Another Mile is owned by James Henry Springer and
raced out of the stable of Larry and Ray Remmen.
On the heels of his
record-breaking night, Ron Burke kept his good fortunes rolling, earning two
wins on the program. First, Bettor Than You took the B-2/B-1 Handicap
pace. Initially sitting the pocket, Bettor Than You moved to the lead
past the opening quarter and proceeded to dominate throughout the mile as the
9/5 second choice. Al’s Hammered rallied to finish second with Lonewolf Currier
third. The winner is owned by Burke Racing Stable L.L.C and Weaver
Bruscemi L.L.C. Later on the card, Four Starzzz Z survived a speed duel
through wild fractions of 27.2, 54.3 and 1:22.1 to capture a C-1 Pace for the
Burke-Gingras connection completing the training double for Burke and giving
Gingras his third winner of the night.
Total handle for
the Saturday program was $2,616,757. The Meadowlands was cancelled on
this date in 2013.
There will be a
carryover in the $.20 Jackpot Super Hi-5 of $9,217 when racing resumes on
Friday, with post time at 7:15 P.M.
