East Rutherford, NJ - Friday night's racing at The Meadowlands centers on the second
preliminary leg of the New Jersey Sires Stakes (NJSS) for freshmen pacers and
trotters. There is a single $25,000 division for each
group in advance of next week's $100,000 finals.
Colt trotters open the card and Hammer
Time returns after having won a division of the first leg
while the other winner, New Jersey Viking, sits this one out with his slot
in the final secure. Hammer Time rolled up uncovered on favored What The
Hill setting up a stretch-long battle that resulted
in a 26.4 final quarter from Hammer Time for the 1:58.1
win. Dave Miller has the drive back on the Muscle Hill colt from post eight of
ten this week for trainer Andrew Harris and owner Glat Kosher Racing.
The pacing colts number seven in the second race. Every Way Out
was a convincing winner in leg one for owner-trainer Aaron Lambert who has
enlisted Tim Tetrick to drive from the rail. Lambert did the driving last
week from just off the pace and when asked for speed, Every Way Out tacked
a 26.1 close on to his 1:55.4 score with something left.
Eleven freshman trotting fillies populate race three with one of
last week's winners, Checkmate Time, returning while the other, Ariana G, stays
home. Checkmate Time (Muscle Hill) was nothing short of
sensational in the first leg rallying from well back with a 26.1 final
quarter to nail a game Southwind Avanti on the wire for the 1:58.1 win. She'll
begin from post nine on Friday with Scott Zeron back in the bike for owner Roy
Dobbins and trainer Dennis Laterza.
One must wait until race eleven for the filly pacers where
Livingthedream (If I Can Dream) will defend her turf, having won the first leg
impressively in 1:54.4 for Marcus Miller. Marcus put the filly into
play from post ten last week dropping in third after a leave, moving to
the front by the half and finishing the mile with a shut-down 27.2
final quarter. Erv Miller trains the homebred for his interests as Erv Miller
Racing along with long time patron Ron Michelon.
GSY Amateurs Racing Friday
After a week's absence, the GSY Amateur Driving Club returns with
a competitive field set to go in race four. Keenan and
owner-trainer-driver John Calabrese have met with great success in the series
as the royally-bred veteran with career earnings of more than a half million
dollars has won all three GSY races in which he's participated.
Feisty Love (David Glasser) will contest the issue from the
inside while Spectator K (Hannah Miller) and Keystone Thomas (Bob
Hechkoff) will engage from outside posts.
Enjoy Air-Conditioned Dining
The forecast is hot for the coming weekend, all the more reason to
watch the action from one of The Meadowlands grandstand dining
options. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
