by James Witherite, Meadowlands Media Relations
East Rutherford, N.J. -- After securing the pocket on the
first turn, Crosbys Clam Bake ($7.80) angled off the pegs in mid-stretch and
chased down 8-5 favorite Opulent Yankee to take Friday (March 4) evening's
featured $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at The Meadowlands.
Scott Zeron put the 6-year-old Kadabra gelding in play from
the outset, outsprinting Appomattox (Andy McCarthy) to the first turn but in
turn beaten to the early lead by Opulent Yankee (Andy Miller) through a :27.1
initial quarter mile. Crosbys Clam Bake enjoyed a cozy pocket trip
throughout, only briefly boxed by the first-over DW's NY Yank (Joe Bongiorno)--who
failed to sustain his bid--on the far turn.
Off the far turn, Crosbys Clam Bake was once again in the
clear after Opulent Yankee rated a :57.3 middle half--but had to make up 2-1/2
lengths in the final eighth of a mile after the pacesetter edged clear off the
corner. Just outside the sixteenth pole, Opulent Yankee was asked for all
he had, but Crosbys Clam Bake ultimately had his measure, driven to prevail by
a head in 1:53.1 over fast going. Appomattox stayed on for third off his
stalking trip.
Andy Federico trains Crosbys Clam Bake--now a 23-time
winner--for Randy Bendis, Jack Piatt, II, and Tom Pollack. The win was
Crosbys Clam Bake's second in his three most recent Open-class events.
Zeron swept the evening's features, also capturing the $15,000
top-level distaff pace with Gweneeee J ($4.60). The 4-year-old American
Ideal mare sustained a middle move out of midpack to take charge just after a
:55.4 half, ultimately kicking clear to a 5-3/4 length victory over
Inittowinafortune (Marcus Miller, elevated to second) and Sayitall BB (Joe
Bongiorno, disqualified from second to third for a pylon violation) in 1:51.1.
Linda Toscano trains Gweneeee J for the KJ Stables, LLC.
The featured wins were part of a grand slam for Zeron, who
led all drivers on the 13-race card. Andy McCarthy and Marcus Miller
registered driving doubles.
Total handle for the evening's card was $2,842,825, an
increase of $148,408 over the corresponding Friday card in 2015.
Neither 20¢ Jackpot High 5 went to a single winner, so they
both carry over to Saturday (March 5) evening's 13-race card. The
seventh-race High 5--just hit last Saturday--will have a newly-established
carryover of $1,589, while the closing-race High 5 carryover has built to
$120,824. Post time for the Saturday opener at the Big M is slated for
6:35 p.m. Eastern.
