By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Odds On St
Lucie gave driver Vinny Ginsburg quite a workout Friday night. And that was
just in the post parade.
Before the featured $31,250 high-end
conditioned pace for fillies and mares at the Meadowlands, the 4-year-old
daughter of Sweet Lou-Shes Some Treasure was rank in the pre-race lineup and
would not calm down until the outrider intervened. “Headstrong doesn’t quite
describe her,” joked Ginsburg.
Given how she raced, the amount of
difficulty she brought was well worth it.
Odds On St Lucie saw her two-race win
streak end last week at the hands of odds-on favorite Major Occasion A, but got
back on the winning track Friday by beating a top-flight field in 1:50.2.
Wisdom Tree, the 4-5 favorite, made
her way to the top while parked at the half in a demanding :54.4. Once Wisdom
Tree cleared, Odds On St Lucie was left first-over, and while she did inch her
way closer to the leader down the backstretch, she was still 2¼ lengths behind
in third with just three-sixteenths to go.
But she was up to the task at hand.
“She’s wicked fast and becoming
versatile and improving every time she goes on the track,” said Ginsburg.
Through the stretch, ‘Lucie’ kept on
coming, and after having to swerve a bit to avoid contact with Sandy Win as
that one vacated the pocket, went on to a neck victory. Sandy Win finished
second with Wisdom Tree third.
“She really dug in tonight off a
tough trip against some nice mares,” said Ginsburg. “I thought I’d be second-up
but when Timmy (Tetrick, driving Wisdom Tree) went to the lead I just rode and
she did the rest.”
Odds On St Lucie returned $8.00 to
her backers as the 3-1 second choice in the betting. She races out of the Tony
Alagna barn for owners Odds On Racing and has now won 10 of her 27 lifetime
starts, good for earnings of $231,217.
ALL HAIL THE CAPTAIN: Corey Callahan had the hot hand among
the drivers, steering five to the winner’s circle. ‘The Captain’ piloted the
winners of four in a row beginning in the sixth race before taking the 13th
and final to cap his five-bagger. … Pat Berry had three winners, including 5-1
and 16-1 shots, respectively, in the 10th and 11th races,
to complete the Pick-4, which paid $285.40 despite Callahan winning the first
two legs at 3-5 and 3-2. … Ginsburg also handled three winners on the card,
meaning Callahan, Berry and Ginsburg combined to win 11 of the 13 races on the
program.
A LITTLE MORE: One sharp player betting into the
Kentucky hub was the only bettor to last eight legs in the 20-cent Survivor
Pick-10 and collected a healthy payoff of $7,538.82. That makes seven straight
SP10s that have paid $3,000 or more. … All-source handle totaled $2,290,954. …
Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
