By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – It was
another Saturday night at the Meadowlands where most of the regular drivers
were out of town, and Pat Berry took full advantage, guiding Backstreet Shadow
to a lifetime-best – and Meadowlands’ season’s-fastest – 1:47.4 clocking in the
featured $30,000 Preferred for 4-year-olds on the pace.
With many of the Big M drivers at
Pocono Downs, Berry had the Scott DiDomenico trainee in a perfect position
second-over following Albergo Hanover as 3-5 favorite Always A Prince hit
three-quarters in 1:20.1.
All Berry had to do at that point was
tip off his cover, and he did just that during the stretch drive, before
rolling to a three-quarter length victory over a fast-closing American History.
Always A Prince held on for third.
Backstreet Shadow, a son of Shadow
Play-Backstreet Sweetie, gave notice in his last race that another big effort
might be on the way. On June 9 at Tioga Downs, he won a division of the
Graduate Series in a then lifetime-best 1:49.1.
The winner paid $13.20 as the third
choice in the wagering, and has now won five-of-12 starts this year for owner
William Hartt. Lifetime, he’s won 12-of-29 outings and banked $262,146.
A LITTLE MORE: Vinny Ginsburg and Eric Abbatiello
led the driver’s colony with three winners each. Berry and Steve Smith both
visited victory lane twice. … The 50-Cent Pick-5, which saw a total pool of
$56,304, had no winning favorites during its sequence, but was still havable as
the longest price of the five was $14.40, which led to a payout of $3,263. …
The fifth race 20-Cent Jackpot Super High-Five did not result in a
single-ticket winner, upping the carryover to $116,410. … All-source handle
totaled $2,461,122. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
