By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Just 48 hours
after arch-rival – and 2019 Horse of the Year – Shartin N won in 1:50 at Dover
Downs in her seasonal debut, Caviart Ally sizzled over a sloppy strip at the
Meadowlands Friday night in her first start of 2020, taking the co-featured
$30,000 Preferred for pacing fillies and mares in 1:49.4 in rainy and chilly
conditions over a sloppy track with a -2 variant.
“I’m very proud of her,” said Caviart
Ally’s trainer Brett Pelling. “She is reasonably fit and race ready but there’s
nothing like a race to get her on her game.”
Let the rivalry resume. “Racing
Shartin N always presents a dilemma since they both share the same racing
style,” said Pelling. “No matter what, posts at Yonkers will dictate [when the
Blue Chip Matchmaker Series gets underway next week].”
JK American Beauty, spectacular two
weeks ago when she won her first start of the year in a lifetime-best 1:50.2,
was on the go early and grabbed the top. After taking a brief tuck, Caviart
Ally was up after the lead and cleared at the three-eighths before hitting the
half in :55.1.
‘Ally’ was clear of JK American
Beauty as Odds On St Lucie inched her way into the fray at three-quarters while
first-over, but through the stretch, after some coaxing from driver Andy
McCarthy, Caviart Ally hit the wire a safe neck in front of JK American Beauty.
Odds On St Lucie was third.
“She was terrific,” said McCarthy. “I
was hoping to [come from off the pace] but I had to put her in the race. I
wanted to give her a good tightener and we were in a bit of a soft bunch, so I
figured we had to be close to the front anyway.”
Caviart Ally, a 6-year-old daughter
of Bettor’s Delight-Allamerican Cool who is owned by Caviart Farms, returned
$3.40 to win as the 3-5 public choice. She’s now won 26-of-73 lifetime starts
and earned $1,839,516.
ANDY MAC-NIFICENT: Winning one of the features on the
card wasn’t enough for McCarthy, who also scored in the $30,000 Preferred for
trotters, with Joey Bats, in 1:53.1.
Joey Bats went parked past the
quarter but eventually got around a head-strong Muscle Diamond soon thereafter
before reaching the half in :55.4.
Pappy Go Go, who along with Joey Bats
comprised a power-packed uncoupled 1-2 punch for trainer Andrew Harris, raced
fifth to the half before uncorking a burst of speed to get into contention on
the far turn, but faded soon thereafter. The pocket-sitting Muscle Diamond took
his shot in deep stretch but would come up a neck short. Misslarose finished
third but was disqualified and placed last in the field of six for
interference. Pappy Go Go finished fourth, then placed third.
“He was good,” said McCarthy of Joey
Bats. “I think he needs to sit off a helmet, but if I didn’t go to the lead
tonight, I knew I would have to come first-over. I knew I had to win tonight. I
know they staked him up pretty good, so I wanted to make sure he won.”
“Joey is just a phenomenal horse who
is still developing,” said Harris. “I think he has every bit of what it takes
to become a stakes winner at some point. Andy Mac just knows how to manage
him.”
Joey Bats, a 5-year-old gelded son of
Holiday Road-JN Daytona who is owned by Scott Dillon, Michele Nelson and Marc
Reynolds, returned $5.20 to win as the 8-5 favorite. He’s now won 18-of-58
lifetime outings and earned $329,962.
Pappy Go Go, who was in search of a
fifth straight Meadowlands win, did not bring his best effort. “Pappy was a
little disappointing,” said Harris. “He’s a very talented horse and when he
didn’t get better position off the gate, in short fields, everyone is
protecting. I knew he was going to be stuck with a tough journey.”
A LITTLE MORE: Drew Monti, the 25-year-old driver
regularly seen on the Buffalo-Batavia circuit, upped his win total at the meeting
to 12 after winning three races on the card. … All-source handle on the 13-race
program totaled $2,503,586. Wagering has now gone past the $2.5 million mark in
11 of the last 12 Big M cards. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:55 p.m.
