East
Rutherford, NJ - Friday night, March 6 at The Meadowlands saw Melady's Monet
overcome an uncovered trip in blustery conditions to return to
his winning ways in the $27,500 Open Handicap trot.
Driver
John Campbell used a quick backstretch move around cloggers and trotted
right up to race favorite DW's NY Yank as that one eased through a :59
middle half. Once Melady's Monet headed the leader, he kicked home in a
powerful 26.3 for the 1:52.4 score. Lindy's Tru Grit rallied late to pick up
the place and DW's NY Yank held the show.
Melady's
Monet had won five of six starts earlier in the meet. He briefly went to
the sidelines in January with what trainer Kevin McDermott described as a
quarter crack. The gelded son of Revenue S returned in spectacular
fashion, defeating the top class of trotters by three lengths with a powerful
stretch drive. He seemed to tail off from there, finishing a dull fifth
in his next start before a sick scratch and a fourth place finish one week ago.
But tonight, Melady's Monet returned to his best form, equaling his
seasonal mark of 1:52.4 with the compelling victory.
Kevin
McDermott trains the winner for Melady Enterprises, LLC of Pompano Beach FLA.
The connections of Melady's Monet have staked him to the Meadowlands Free
For All Trot Stake Program, including the Arthur Cutler Memorial, John Cashman
Memorial and TVG Free For All Trotting Championship.
Corey
Callahan scored three wins on the program as his winter to remember continues.
Callahan is currently the leading money winning driver in the country and
sits third in the race for most wins.
Andy
and Julie Miller teamed up for a pair of wins on the program, as did Jim Marohn
Jr., who is having a breakout season at The Meadowlands and Rob Harmon.
The
fifth race $.20 cent Jackpot Super Hi-5 returned $4,824 for two winning
tickets, but the jackpot remains unclaimed with a carryover into the Saturday
program of $44,210.71. The 13th race Jackpot also carried over into the
Saturday program. That carryover now stands at $154,649.
The
13-race Saturday program consists of the second round of the Buddy Gilmour
series, which features the intriguing match-up of Wiggle It JiggleIt against
National Seelster. Post time is 7:15 P.M.
