One week after being
beaten a neck for all the money, Ontario Success did not disappoint those that
bet him down to odds on favoritism in the top-level condition pace for $17,000
on Saturday night at The Meadowlands.
Released as the even
money choice, driver Yannick Gingras took no prisoners, sending his horse to
the lead past the opening quarter in 27-seconds. He was able to work out a 57.3 middle
half-mile, hitting the half-mile in 55.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.3. On the far turn, he faced a bold challenge
from 35-1 longshot Kingofthejungle, who launched a big move and was at the
leaders throat latch coming off the far turn. Martini Hanover was tracking from
the pylons while Rockin Wizard began to rally off the cover of
Kingofthejungle. In the middle of the
stretch, Kingofthejungle stumbled and Ontario Success suddenly found himself
with a two length lead. Rockin Wizard
was closing well down the center of the track, but the wire came just in time
for Ontario Success who scored in 1:51.2 over Rockin Wizard. Martini Hanover, last week’s winner in this
class finished third.
The victory was the
sixth of the season for Ontario Success for trainer Ron Burke who co-owns the
gelding with Weaver Bruscemi L.L.C.
The win was one of three
on the card for Yannick Gingras. Tim
Tetrick also bagged three winners on the Saturday program.
Ashley’s Husband Returns A Winner
Ashley’s Husband has
taken his seasonal mark each of the last two years at The Meadowlands, his mark
this year of 1:50, was a lifetime best effort as well. So it was fitting that he returned off the
10-week layoff at The Meadowlands and it was no surprise that he returned a
winner.
Sent off as the 2-1
favorite, Ashley’s Husband tracjed a live outer flow throughout the second half
of the mile for Joe Bongirono, tipped three-wide into the stretch and paced
fastest of all to the wire, to score in a lifetime-best equaling time of
1:50. The win marked his seventh trip to
the Meadowlands winner’s circle.
Ashely’s Husband is
trained by Kyle Spagnola who made it four consecutive starts resulting in
victories at The Meadowlands with this win.
He would improve on that record when Our Dragon King won the 10th
race as an overwhelming favorite as well.
For the meet, Spagnola’s record shows 7 wins from 9 starts, following a
weekend that saw him go five-for-five.
Ashley’s Husband is
owned by William J. Donovan. This was
his 22nd lifetime win and he now has earnings over $164,000.
Another Takter Two Year Old
Trainer Jimmy Takter
continues to send out powerful two year old performers at The Meadowlands. On Saturday evening, it was a two year old
gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover, All The Cookies, the latest Takter-trainee to
grace the Big M winner’s circle.
The even money favorite,
with Yannick Gingras in the sulky was three-wide early in the first turn, but
settled and made a strong brush to the lead as the field straightened away on
the backstretch. After a 27.2 first quarter,
All The Cookies led the field through fractions of 55.1 and 1:24.2 before
turning for home in command. Major In
Life rallied well in the stretch, but not enough to threaten the winner, All
The Cookies who scored in 1:53.
Wegottatruckyea was a sneaky-good third.
All The Cookies won for
the second time in three starts to begin his career. The Jimmy Takter trainee is owned by
Christina Takter, Brixton Medical, L. Camara and J. Sbrocco.
Surick Scores with New Acquisition
Pistopackinpiper, who
established his career in the Midwest, made his first start for new trainer
Nick Surick a winning one, when he rallied in deep stretch to win a three-horse
photo in 1:52.2 for Marcus Miller.
Surick also teamed up to win the $10,000 claiming nightcap with Brioni.
Pistopackinpiper had
ground to make up on Mullet Blue Chip who led at every point of call, but used
every inch of the long Meadowlands stretch to just grab the victory on the
wire. App Heaven rallied up the pylons
to be third.
The winner, conditioned
by Nick Surick is owned by Jerry Graham and Engel Stable Of Illinois.
Handle for the 13-race
Saturday program was $2,519,723.
Racing returns on
Friday, December 4th, with first post time at 7:00 P.M.
