by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – On a night that saw 10
trotting events on a 13-race program, two performances stood out at the
Meadowlands Friday night.
In a division of the Kindergarten Classic
for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot, Walner rebounded to dominate in
his second career Big M start.
The Linda Toscano-trained colt brushed to
command at the three-eighths before romping his way to a 6½-length win in
1:53.4 with Tim Tetrick doing the driving.
A week ago in a similar spot, Walner went
off stride as the 2-5 favorite, suffering the only loss of his brief four-race
career, but the bettors forgave that outing, sending him to the gate as the 4-5
choice. The Kenneth Jacobs-owned son of Chapter Seven returned $3.60 to win.
In the overnight feature for non-winners
of $15,000 in their last five starts, Sutton ($8.80), who finished third in the
Hambletonian last month, sat a perfect pocket trip and vacated the rail at the
eighth pole to grab the top before holding off the late-charging Cash Me Out to
record a neck win in 1:51.4 for the husband and wife team of driver Andy and
trainer Julie Miller.
Canepa Hanover, the 4-5 favorite after
facing the likes of Obrigado and Resolve in his last two starts, moved to the
lead at the three-eighths and led to the stretch before weakening to third.
FOUR PAIR: Joe Bongiorno, Andy
Miller, Ake Svanstedt and Yannick Gingras all recorded driving doubles on the
program. … Over the first three cards of the abbreviated four-program September
meeting, Miller has driven nine winners. … Racing resumes at the Big M Saturday
at 7:15 p.m.
