Sent away as the second wagering choice, Escape The News used the
race as a stage to avenge last week’s loss to Warrawee Needy. Meadowlands
leading driver Yannick Gingras put Escape
The News in position to win by sending him hard from the start and
taking the 3-5 favorite Warrawee Needy well through the first turn in a 26.2
opener. Once clear, driver Mark MacDonald let “Needy” roll through
demanding splits of 53.4 and 1:21.stretching the short field to its limit.
Gingras was chasing Escape The News to keep contact from the pocket, giving the
Artiscape gelding a punchers chance at the leader. Deep stretch, the airing
out took its toll on the leader and Escape The News edged clear for the win in
a personal best and the fastest mile of the young season of 1:48.4.
Warrawee Needy held second over a well meant Bakin On The Beach who
flashed sneaky pace very late.
Escape The News improved his 2013 slate to four wins and a pair of
seconds in six seasonal starts for America’s leading trainer Ron Burke. He is
owned by a partnership that includes the Burke Racing Stable,
Weaver/Bruscemi, JJKStables and Howard Taylor. Winning driver Yannick
Gingras scored a grand slam on the card.
The $57,500 Aquarius final becomes far more compelling after
tonight’s result and will be raced next Saturday night along with the $50,000
Horse & Groom trotting series final.
The betting windows saw large returns once again, as the total handle for the Saturday card of $3,514,787 was an increase of 27% from the $2,766,624 bet on this same Saturday in 2012.
This week, the final Thursday night of the season is set to go
with a 10 race program and first post of 7:15 P.M.
