RUS America Press Release
(November 2, 2016) – RUS returns to Meadowlands Racing and
Entertainment on Saturday (November 5) evening when six trotters go to the
starting gate in a late season contest.
The $6,500 RUS America Trot presented by Back on Track and Knutsson
Trotting will be contested as a non-wagering event immediately after the first
race on the wagering card. Following the
race, a meet and greet will be held near the winners circle where fans will be
able to meet riders who will be signing autographs and answering questions about
racing under saddle.
The RUS America Trot features a first time starter, Modest
Prince who figures to be one of the main contenders in the one-mile contest based
on his 1:58.2 qualifier this past Friday at the Meadowlands over a sloppy
track. Looking to be the main challenger
is Hyway Marcus, who came home a 1:59.1 winner at Tioga Downs in his last RUS
start back on August 7.
Here is a rundown of the field for Saturday evening’s race:
1.
Bosak – A winner of his only start at Goshen’s
Historic Track last year during the Grand Circuit meet, the five year old
gelding by Crazed comes into this race off of a qualifier last week at the
Meadowlands. With a tightner under his belt,
he should be competitive here. Boask is
ridden by Vanessa Karlewicz who has compiled a record of three wins, a place,
and a show out of eight starts this year.
2.
My Friend Charlie – Winless this year but always
a threat on the RUS-NY fair circuit with four seconds out of eight starts this
year, My Friend Charlie moves up to compete against tougher stock. The five year old altered son of Rc Royalty
will be ridden by his owner Andrea Pratt who has a .296 URR.
3.
Funny Photo – This seven year old son of Classic
Photo, who makes up one half of the Patti Harmon trained entry, has been one of
the stars of the New York fair circuit with a record of 8-4-1-1. With a 1:59.1 mark at Vernon Downs, he should
benefit from the mile oval. Sophie
Engerran, the leading rider in North America in wins this year, once again has
the ride here.
4.
Hyway Marcus – The other half of the Harmon
trained entry, Hyway Marcus finished second in the RUS America Trot conduced at
Ocean Downs this past summer, finishing less than a length behind the winner
Mr. Protab who is the king of RUS at the Berlin, Maryland oval. The five year old gelding last raced in a RUS
event at Tioga Downs, scoring an easy victory in 1:59.1. Maria Buchanan, who has a win and a second
place finish this year from two starts once again gets the ride.
5.
One True Friend – The only mare in the race
makes was defeated soundly at Saratoga in October. No doubt her connections are hoping for a
better performance over the mile oval.
Hillary Hartnett comes into this race with a URR of .333.
6.
Modest Prince – The Linda Toscano trainee, made
his first qualifying start in two years, an eye-opening one with a 1:58.2
qualifier over a sloppy Meadowlands oval with a two second allowance. If he comes back with a similar race this
week, he will be hard to beat. While
having only one ride thus far this year, veteran Helene Gregory is a rider who
must be feared.
With the Breeders Cup being simulcast to the Meadowlands,
RUS America look forward to showing thoroughbred fans on-track the versatility
of the standardbred and a form of standardbred racing which may be more
familiar to them. RUS Riders look
forward to meeting with fans of all forms of horseracing after the race. RUS America concludes its season ten days
later on November 15 at Rosecroft Raceway.
