East Rutherford, N.J. – Favorites came
up short in both the featured trotting and pacing events on Saturday (November
19) evening at The Meadowlands, as Waiting On a Woman ($22.00) and Bullet Bob
($15.20) went on to score minor upsets on the evening’s 11-race card.
In the $13,000 trotting feature, carded
as race two, 7-5 favorite Rock of Cashel (Andy Miller) used a bold middle move
to engage Aldebaran Eagle (Jim Meittinis) through the far turn after stalking
early sectionals of :28.1 and :57.1. Despite steady first-over gains to take
charge from Aldebaran Eagle into a :28.4 third quarter and wear him down in
upper stretch, Joe Bongiorno found clearance to slide second-over with Waiting
On a Woman off the far turn and narrowly chase down Rock of Cashel in the last
yards of a 1:53.4 mile. Aldebaran Eagle held third despite tiring, while 2012
Hambletonian winner Market Share (Victor Kirby) stayed on for fourth.
Kyle Spagnola trains the 8-year-old
Northern Bailey gelding for Michael Polansky. Waiting On a Woman’s sixth
seasonal win increases his career tally to 57 victories. For runner-up Rock of
Cashel, it was his fourth straight second-place finish in the class and course.
While Waiting On a Woman sprung his
upset in the featured trot from just off the pace, Bullet Bob captured the
night’s $14,000 upper-level pace (race 7) in front-end fashion. Victor Kirby
sought the early lead with the 7-year-old Tell All gelding and never looked
back, rating a :56.3 first half mile before repelling a stiff first-over
challenge from Moonwriter (Bongiorno) which lasted nearly the entirety of a :55
closing half mile. Bullet Bob rose well to pressure, holding sway by half a
length in 1:51.3 for his seventh seasonal win and the 32nd of his
career. Betting Exchange (Andy Miller) emerged out of traffic to save third.
Mark Harder trains Fox Hollow Farm
homebred Bullet Bob.
Live racing returns to the Big M on
Friday (November 25) evening, with a carryover of $40,679.67 heading to the
last-race 20¢ Jackpot Super High 5. First post is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
Eastern time.
