Friday
night at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment revived memories of years past
with multiple lead changes, horses rallying from well back to win and Mr.
Meadowlands stealing the spotlight.
All time
Meadowlands leading driver John Campbell used the live flow to collect
four winners on the night, employing the patented Campbell cover trip style on
most. In fact, none of his four wins came with a horse that was on the
lead turning for home.
Campbell
steered Solid Queen to a grinding first over 1:53.4 score in an 8-1 upset for
trainer Mike Russo and owner Scott Irwin in the fifth race. He tripped out the
very next race with M&M Harness Racing’s new purchase Sweet Justice in a
career best 1:54- for trainer Bruce Saunders at 2 ½ - 1.
Campbell’s
mount in the eighth was the favored Best Boss, a catch drive for her regular
pilot and trainer Pat Lachance. Kept well off the pace, she swept by the field
with authority to win in 1:52-. Lachance shares ownership with long time
patrons M&M Harness Racing and Ira Rosenblum.
The
Triple Lindy rallied from well back to take race nine in a personal best
equaling 1:54.1 under a Campbell steer. The talented five-year-old was winning
for the ninth time this season for trainer Paul Kelley, who shares ownership
with all of his friends; Stephen Michaels, Jim Winske, and Bill Weaver.
In
addition, Corey Callahan, who had his coming out party this year at The
Meadowlands this year won three races himself.
Friday’s
card was the first Friday night of racing in the month of November conducted at
The Meadowlands since November of 2010. But the results showed more
promise for the new facility. Most significantly, the live handle showed
an increase of 50-percent from the comparable November night in 2010. In
addition, the total handle yielded a 56-percent increase over that same
evening.
Tonight’s card is one for the ages, with eight stakes on the program worth over
$3.4 million. It is the first time The Meadowlands has hosted the “Fall Final
Four” since the early winter of 2010. Featured will be the marquee
match-up in the $512,000 TVG FFA Pace with sophomore Captaintreacherous facing
the finest older pacers on the continent including the sport’s richest, the
$5.7 million winner Foiled Again. Combined earnings for that race’s ten
contestants are just shy of the $20 million mark. Hambletonian winner
Market Share headlines the $500,000 TVG FFA Trot, while Bee A Magician looks to
wrap up an undefeated season in the $253,000 Moni Maker. Get all the info
at The Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment website.
