East
Rutherford, N.J. – While odds-on favorite Ashley’s Husband failed to make any
impression by way of his first-over bid in Saturday (November 26) night’s
$17,500 featured pacing event at The Meadowlands, the Muscara Racing Trust’s Mr
Hasani N ($23.20) took full advantage of a clear pocket trip to just gather in
pacesetter Bullet Bob for a 1:50.3 upset score.
Andy
McCarthy nestled the 8-year-old Christian Cullen gelding in the pocket behind
Bullet Bob (Scott Zeron) on the first turn, and the pair drafted through early
splits of :27.3 and :56.2 before the pace picked up. Mr Hasani N kept up
strongly with the accelerating Bullet Bob through a :27.1 third sectional while
Ashley’s Husband (Vinny Ginsburg) only could muster gradual uncovered gains
from his midpack stalking spot. In mid-stretch, Mr Hasani N switched off the
pegs and pushed to the fore entirely at will, using a :26.3 last quarter to
defeat Bullet Bob by half a length. Ashley’s Husband refused to regress in the
straight and managed third place.
Darran
Cassar trains Mr Hasani N, now a 39-time winner.
In
the night’s $17,500 “Dash for the G-Notes” final for first-level pacers,
Stimulus Plan ($10.20) made all the pace and dueled gamely to repel a strong
first-over challenge from even-money favorite Card Shock (David Miller) for a
1:52 triumph. Vinny Ginsburg drove the 6-year-old Western Ideal gelding for
trainer Robert Ginsburg, Jr.
Total
handle for Saturday’s 13-race program was $2,196,939. As the last-race
20¢ Jackpot Super High Five was not hit by a single player, the carryover
mounts to $46,999 heading to next Friday’s card. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
Eastern.
