Saturday morning at The
Meadowlands felt like spring with sunny skies, mild temperatures and many
trainers bringing their stakes hopefuls in for some speed work on the big
track. Tony Alagna, Jimmy Takter and Linda Toscano were among those present and
Linda had her stable star Market Share on the track for a
successful workout minus the trotting hopples in anticipation of a trip to
Sweden for the Elitlopp.
Many three year olds
trotters were on the menu early but the star of the show was aging icon Arch
Madness. He settled third through the early going for Trond Smedshammer while
Corky and Archangel took turns on the front before mowing them down and winning
by several lengths in 1:53.3 with an individual sub 28 final quarter into a
considerable breeze. The buzz among the observers was that he looks as good or
better than he has in the past few seasons.
2013 Breeders Crown
freshman filly pace winner Uffizi Hanover made her first appearance with an
effortless 1:54.4 tune up out of the pocket for Dave Miller. She comes from the
Jimmy Takter barn, as did the winner of the next race, the lightly raced
Gettingreadytoroll.
That one was well within
herself in 1:53.3 with Yannick Gingras along for the ride. Late to the races as
a two year old, Gettingreadytoroll has but a single money start winning in
1:54.2 at Pocono and two good qualifying efforts at The Meadowlands at the end
of last year before being put away.
All Bets Off looked
sharp in his second go around for the Burke stable. The Matron winner was held
just off the pace by Gingras and wore down the stubborn mile cutter Parnu
Hanover in 1:52.4 / 28-. Believeinthespirit actually split those two for the
place in a solid effort and That’s My Opinion was a willing fourth.
Burke’s Governor’s Cup
winner JK Endofanera looked sharp winning his qualifier in 1:52.4 with a 28
flat close for Brian Sears over a game Ideal Cowboy and Somewhere Fancy in
another key prep for this group.
The final race of the
day saw the highly regarded Odds On Equuleus return to the wars after a
disappointing sophomore campaign. Tim Tetrick sent him along quickly from the
start but couldn’t shake See And Ski or OK Commander. Those three finished
across the track in 1:52-.
Live racing resumes at
7:15 tonight with a carryover in excess of $30,000 on the Pick Five beginning
in race one.
