The first official night of summer
brought a huge crowd out for Cameltonian III and the feeling at The Meadowlands
was electric. The Saturday night card produced a handle of
$2,573,155 which was an increase of $496,320 from the same night last year,
which also featured the camel and ostrich races. That represents a
24-percent increase over last year. On-track handle was also up slightly.
On the racetrack, three series
finals were contested and Dan Rawlings, in from The Meadows to drive the
card, won a pair of them among three for the night.
First
among them was the $23,900 Flower Child trot where eventual winner Star’s Photo
was sent away at 10-1 despite wins in both preliminary legs. Starting from the
outside ten post, Rawlings drifted out with Star’s Photo looking for position,
found none and patiently waited for the live cover of McKenzie’s Star just past
the quarter. That one’s early move toward the lead was repelled by the favored
Sina and Greg Merton through honest fractions. Star’s Photo tipped wide
willingly for Rawlings and opened up a few mid-stretch then coasted in for a
two length score in 1:55.2. Calipari rallied up for second after an eventful
trip and longshot Dash For The Cash third, triggering a $1 trifecta payoff just
shy of $2,000.
Leading
trainer Ron Burke conditions the winner who he owns as Burke Racing in
partnership with Weaver Bruscemi.
Rawlings
was back in the winner’s circle after the $25,100 Caramore pacing final with
Joe Azarow’s stable star Relentless Dreamer. Always one to pack a powerful late
kick, Relentless Dreamer landed near the back early and gradually followed
cover up toward Duel In The Sun who was enjoying a very friendly pace on the
front end. Off a 1:23.3 three quarters, the field was closing in on the leader
and Relentless Dreamer was fanned widest of all with the most pace to get up on
the wire in 1:51.1.
The
winner is trained by his owner and has been a solid performer here at The
Meadowlands for the past few years. He may not win a bunch of races, but he’s
always coming and tonight he and Dan Rawlings timed the move perfectly. The win
pushed him well past the $100,000 mark in career earnings.
Pacing
mares competed in the $23,900 Cathedra Dot Com final and Carolsideal picked an
excellent week to score her first win of the season in 1:51.4 for Jeff
Dauplaise. She was settled mid pack as KZ Beach Girl and Mojarra Hanover took
turns on the lead past a 55.1 first half. Race favorite The Summer Wind rolled
up first over, assumed the lead in the stretch and was moving like a winner but
could not resist the late bid from the winner who had live cover as far as she
needed.
Carolsideal
is driven, trained and owned by Jeff Dauplaise in partnership with his mother
Carol as Saddle Rock Stable.
The Saturday night card produced a handle of $2,573,155
which was an increase of $496,320 from the same night last year, which also
featured the camel and ostrich races. That represents a 24-percent
increase over last year. On-track handle was also up slightly.
Live racing returns on Friday with first post time at 7:15
P.M. We also get our first look at the two year olds this coming weekend
with the New Jersey Sire Stakes for the juveniles beginning Friday
evening. For more information go to playmeadowlands.com
