by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JL Cruze stayed perfect
in three seasonal starts Friday night, taking the featured $25,000 open
handicap trot at the Meadowlands by 1½ lengths over Shake It Cerry.
Opulent Yankee was third.
A 5-year-old gelded son of Crazed, JL
Cruze used a change in tactic from his first two victories of the season and
was hustled to the top by driver John Campbell before hitting the quarter in
:27.1.
Campbell was allowed to rate the Eric Ell
trainee through a half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.3, leaving plenty of
gas in the tank. At the top of the stretch, Rose Run Parker was a
non-threatening presence alongside the eventual winner, but did provide live
cover for Shake It Cerry, the lifetime earner of $2.4 million who was making
her 2016 debut. Shake It Cerry closed well in a solid try for the Jimmy Takter
barn.
JL Cruse, who is pointing toward the May
8 Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff at the Big M, hit the wire in 1:52.2 after
trotting a final quarter in :26.4 and paid $3 to win as the 1-2 favorite.
Campbell, the all-time leader in wins and
earnings at the Big M, scored four times on the card. In addition to JL Cruze
in the sixth race, Campbell won with Massive Clout ($6.80 to win) in the first,
Kiss Me Onthebeach ($8.60) in the third and longshot I C Caviar ($33.00) in the
eighth.
All-source wagering on the 12-race card
was $2,650,557 while the 12th race Jackpot Super High
Five carryover swelled to $179,502.82 for the next racing program after the
wager was again not hit.
Racing resumes at the Meadowlands
Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
