Second longest shot in the field scores at 24-1
EAST
RUTHERFORD, (April 25, 2015) – The Grand
Circuit season got underway with a bit of a surprise. Dismissed at 24-1,
Fast Movin Train scored the upset in the $47,306 W.N. Reynolds Memorial, Tar
Heel division for three year old pacers.
The
early lead was established by Colorful Speech, who reached the quarter in 27.1
before settling into a rhythm and gliding to the half-mile in 56.3. At
that time, Coaster committed first over from mid-pack, carrying Rock N’ Roll
World into a live outer flow. In the meantime, Fast Movin Train, who
showed good speed off the gate, was content riding the pocket throughout the
mile as Colorful Speech took the field past three-quarters in 1:25.1. In
the stretch, Andy Miller called on Colorful Speech for more speed, but the
field was closing in. Coaster continued to grind away first over and
closed the gap, while Rock N’ Roll World was rallying off his cover. But
inside the final eighth of a mile, a seam opened and into the breach came Fast
Movin Train, who found the seam and burst through to grab the victory in the
shadow of the wire in 1:52.3.
The
win was the second in the last three starts for the three year old gelded son
of Rock N Roll Heaven and the first stakes victory of his career, sending his
lifetime earnings close to $60,000. The winner was driven by Dave Miller
for Joe Holloway and owner Michael Ouriel.
With
12 horses entered, the second round of the Whata Baron series saw an overloaded
field contest one division for $22,500. In a race that saw six different
horses on the lead at one point in the mile, the last horse to reach the lead
was round one winner Rediscovery. Although he was an overwhelming
favorite the prior week, Rediscovery escaped from the second tier at 5-1.
He came from well off the pace while racing third over. There was a
scramble for the lead with four different horses having the lead at some point
before the half-mile mark of the 1 1/8th miles contest. It
would be Major Uptrend who would settle into the leading position after
fractions of 26.1 and 55.1. He would continue to lead around the turn, past
three-quarters in 1:23.4, but the field began to close in. Ideal Cowboy was
bearing down first over, El Bloombito was rallying off cover and he grabbed the
lead inside the last eighth of a mile, but he was quicky collared by
Rediscovery who came home fastest of all to complete the 1 1/8th
miles in 2:04.2. Bettorever rallied from far back to be second with El
Bloombito third.
The
winner was driven by Andrew McCarthy for Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi and
Collura.
Doo
Wop Hanover took the $25,000 Four and Five Year Old Open Handicap Pace, giving
John Campbell his third win on the card. Doo Wop sat third early behind
the speed of 6/5 favorite Fool Me Once, who was looking to go wire to wire for
the second consecutive week. Campbell guided his horse first over into a 55.3
half-mile and by the time the field hit three-quarters in 1:23.1, Doo Wop
Hanover was nearly on even terms with the leader. The former New Jersey
Sire Stakes Champion hit the front in mid-stretch and held off a late rally by
Dovuto Hanover, while pacing home in a powerful 26.3 to win in 1:49.4.
Dovuto Hanover was second while Fool Me Once saved the show. Little Brown
Jug Winner Limelight Beach sat the pocket throughout and was an even fourth in
his 2015 debut.
Doo
Wop Hanover is trained by Steve Elliot, who won two races on the card for Peter
Blood and Rick Berks.
Gokudo
Hanover made it three in a row, winning his division of the Spring Preview for
three year old pacers in 1:51.1 by gamely holding off Revenge Shark and
Soto. Gokudo Hanover was allowed to control the tempo again, stealing a
29-second, second quarter in the process. Soto came first over into a
strong third quarter, while Revenge Shark saved ground throughout. The
three lined up across the track and raced to the wire, but Gokudo Hanover would
not let anyone by, winning for John Campbell. The winner is trained by
Douglas Hamilton for Sandbur Farms, Valarie Sutton and Joseph Hemingway.
Gweneeee
J, the sister to world champion Kenneth J made the third time the charm,
scoring her first victory Saturday Night at The Meadowlands. Sent off as
the odds-on favorite for the third consecutive time, the three year old filly
took no prisoners, putting herself on the lead and staying there throughout the
mile. Her stablemate, Lady Spartacus, who defeated her last week, was
relegated to the pocket throughout and could not get to Gweneeee J, who paced
home in 26.4 to score a decisive victory. John Campbell drove the filly
for Linda Toscano and Kenneth Jacobs.
The
2015 World Harness Handicapping Championship was conducted on Saturday night at
The Meadowlands and the winner, taking home the $14,400 first place prize was
William Meisel of Staten Island, N.Y. William catapulted to the win with
a $100, last race win wager on the winner, Rockaholic, sending his bankroll to
$1,092 to capture the prize.
The
fifth race Jackpot Super Hi-5 went unclaimed, with the carryover now at
$95,311. The last race Jackpot Super Hi-5 also had more than one winner and
that carryover grew to $68,662.
