By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Highalator
and Guardian Angel As extended their respective winning streaks in style Friday
night in the co-features at the Meadowlands.
Highalator won for fifth time in six
Meadowlands starts this year, displaying some versatility in coming from off
the pace to win Leg 3 of the Golden Receiver series for pacers for driver Ricky
Still and trainer Jenny Bier.
The 5-year-old son of
Somebeachsomewhere-Higher And Higher was away fourth in the early going as 2-1
second choice – and 2018 Sam McKee Memorial winner – Western Joe hit the
quarter in :26.2. After a rated second fraction in :28.2, Still moved
Highalator to the outside at the half and went after Western Joe while parked,
before poking a head in front at three-quarters in 1:22.3.
Highalator then did what Highalator
does, sprinting his final quarter in :26 flat to win his third straight at the
Big M and fourth in a row overall. It was a neck back to a fast-closing – but
non-threatening – Classy Dragon. Trump Nation finished third. Western Joe
weakened and finished eighth.
The winner returned $4.20 as the
public choice and the final time of 1:48.3 equaled Highalator’s season’s-best
effort and gave him eight wins in 16 seasonal starts. Lifetime, he’s won
29-of-62 and banked $429,028.
“I think he’s the best older pacer in
training,” said Bier. “He can do it any way you want. He’s very easy on himself
and he doesn’t get tired. He’s a happy horse and he loves to race.”
A week from Saturday at Pocono Dows,
a meeting with McWicked awaits in the Ben Franklin.
Guardian Angel As, off a 1:51 score
in the Maxie Lee at Harrah’s Philadelphia, faced a deep field in the third leg
of the Mr Muscleman for trotters, and in workmanlike fashion, scored in 1:52.1
to win his third straight after starting his season with a fourth-place finish
in the Big M’s Cutler. It was his first-ever Meadowlands win in six tries.
Tim Tetrick, who guided four winners
on the program, handled the 5-year-old son of Archangel-Provide As patiently,
sitting at the rail fifth past the quarter before going on a steady,
constructive stroll after leader Pinkman. Guardian Angel As, who returned $3.00
as the 1-2 favorite, cleared the top shortly after the half but had to contend
with Cruzado Dela Noche, who had followed the live cover of the eventual winner
down the backside before inching closer while racing first-over.
Through the stretch, it became
apparent that whatever Cruzado Dela Noche brought, Guardian Angel As brought a
little bit more, and at wire he was a half-length to the good. Pinkman finished
third.
“He was very good,” said Tetrick of
the Anette Lorentzon trainee. “Especially for being off three weeks. It was a
very good effort.”
The win was Guardian Angel As’ 19th
from 44 career starts, good for earnings of $614,780.
A LITTLE MORE: Chalk players lived large on the
13-race card, as nine favorites hit the winner’s circle. … Betting was spirited
in both the 50-Cent Pick-5 ($70,427 in the pool) and 50-Cent Pick-4 ($116,369)
and one sharp player in Chicago raked the pot in the 20-Cent Survivor Pick-10 and
walked away with $7,892.38 after lasting six legs. … All-source wagering
totaled $2,499,099. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
