By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Shellie De Vie
was the recipient of a superb drive by Vinny Ginsburg, and the result was an
easy 3¼-length score in the $25,000 featured conditioned pace for fillies and
mares at the Meadowlands Friday night.
The 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s
Delight-Beach Girl De Vie was put on the point around the first turn and made
the quarter in :27.3. Oceania, the 4-5 favorite, was sitting sixth at this
stage before working her way into the outer flow third-over as Shellie De Vie
hit the half in :55.3.
You Should Be Here came calling
first-over to pressure the leader, but Shellie De Vie kept on rolling to
three-quarters in 1:23.1 after a middle-half rating of :55.3 by Ginsburg with a
strong winds at the horses’ backs. Oceania was now three-wide with cover as the
field came to the top of the stretch.
Through the final three-sixteenths of
a mile, Shellie De Vie continued to move well while Oceania could provide no
punch after tipping off cover. Trained by Paul Fusco, Shellie De Vie completed
the mile in 1:52. Annabeth came from way back to grab second while Renaissance
Lady K finished third. Oceania was seventh in the nine-horse field.
As the second choice in the wagering,
Shellie De Vie, who’s now won 11-of-56 lifetime with earnings of $129,304 for
owner Robert Arzano, paid $11.80 to win.
THE BIG NIGHT IS HERE: Saturday night, the Meadowlands is
hosting its biggest night of the autumn meeting, Fall Final Four/TVG Finals
Night, with purses totaling just over $2.8 million.
A galaxy of harness racing stars will
be on the card, including Atlanta, Hannelore Hanover, Papi Rob Hanover, Amigo
Volo, Sister Sledge, Senorita Rita, American History, McWicked, Bettor’s Wish,
Lyons Sentinel, Six Pack, Gimpanzee, Manchego, Warrawee Ubeaut, Caviart Ally,
and last but not least, the great Shartin N, who will look to claim the Horse
of the Year trophy should she emerge victorious.
The star-studded program gets off to
an earlier-than-usual start, with the first race going off at 7 p.m.
A LITTLE MORE: Dexter Dunn and Yannick Gingras both
drove three winners on the card. Dunn leads the way at the Big M at the current
meeting with 24 victories. … The 20-cent Survivor Pick-10 returned $3,147 for
those who lasted seven legs. Of the seven winners, four were post-time choices.
… All-source handle totaled $2,193,101 for the 13-race program.
