By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The heavy
rain and sloppy conditions didn’t figure to deter Caviart Ally in the Friday
night feature at the Meadowlands, the $20,000 Preferred Handicap for pacing
fillies and mares, as the 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Allamerican
Cool stomped on an abbreviated field, besting four foes in 1:50.2.
The Noel Daley trainee was sent to
the gate as the 1-9 choice and deservedly so. Two starts back, she was sent off
as the even-money choice and finished third to Shartin N in the Breeders Crown
Mare Pace elimination. One week later, in the BC final, she finished second to
Shartin N – who is in the Horse of the Year hunt – despite drawing post nine.
In both Breeders Crown events – as well as Friday at the Big M – the weather
was lousy with a track labeled ‘sloppy’.
Friday at the Meadowlands, driver Andy
McCarthy put Caviart Ally on the front, and given the defections of two
top-flight mares – Pure Country, who was an early judges scratch, and
Darlinonthebeach, who took the night off due to sickness – it did not figure to
be much of a race, and it turned out to be just that.
Caviart Ally sprinted to the top,
with 5-1 second choice Monica Gallagher and 28-1 longshot I’m Trigger Happy
sitting second and third at the rail. Except for a non-threatening challenge
from 8-1 third choice Penpal down the backside, positions were unchanged from
start to finish, with Caviart Ally powering clear late to a 4¾-length romp in
the slop, with Monica Gallagher finishing second and I’m Trigger Happy third.
While upping her lifetime record to
16 wins in 52 starts, Caviart Ally returned $2.20 to her backers and topped a
$4.60 exacta for her owners Buck and Judy Chaffee’s Caviart Farms. Her lifetime
bankroll stands at $1,138,721.
A LITTLE MORE: McCarthy
scored three times on the program. The leading driver at the Big M now has 13
winners for the meet. … The Steve Smith-driven, Jackie Greene-trained Mayfair
Johnny B stayed red hot, winning for a third straight start. The 4-year-old
gelding continues to climb the class ladder, having beaten non-winners of
$3,500, non-winners of $5,000 and non-winners of $8,500 in succession. …
Trainer Eric Abbatiello won twice on the card, as did drivers Smith and Dexter
Dunn. … All-source wagering on the program totaled $1,641,661. … Racing resumes
Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
