By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – The return of
racing at the Meadowlands from the coronavirus shutdown featured phenomenal
performances by a pair of Nancy Takter trainees.
Manchego got the party started in the
first race back after the Big M’s 12-week layoff by taking the Preferred for
trotters in a season’s-best 1:50.3 with Dexter Dunn driving, despite racing
over a track rated ‘sloppy’. The 5-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill-Secret
Magic was unhurried in the early going, sitting fifth past the half before
vacating the rail and coming after leader Lindy The Great while first-over.
Manchego was almost even with that
foe at three-quarters before quickly surging to the top at the head of the
stretch. She then glided through the lane during a final quarter that was
clocked in :26.1 on the way to a 2¼-length score over Southwind Chrome, who
went a pocket trip. Crystal Fashion rallied for third. Lindy The Great weakened
to finish sixth.
“I was expecting Manchego to race
well,” said Takter. “But was I expecting her to go [1:]50 under wraps in the
slop? Maybe not just yet.”
Manchego has now won seven of her
last eight outings, the only blemish coming at the hands of Six Pack, who was
nothing short of super in defeating Manchego in the TVG Open Trot last November
at the Big M.
“She’s the little engine that could,”
said Takter. “I was glad she raced from off the pace. It makes her more
versatile. She’ll be even better as a result.”
As the 1-5 favorite, Manchego paid
$2.40 to win.
But it wasn’t enough for Takter to
have 2020’s fastest trotter. At night’s end, she had the fastest pacer as well.
Her Kissin In The Sand – with Yannick
Gingras driving – won the co-featured Preferred for pacing fillies and mares in
an eye-popping 1:47.4, which was not only the fastest female mile of the
season, but the fastest for any horse regardless of sex.
“She was just great,” said Takter of
the 5-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Kiss Me Kate who equaled her
lifetime best. “She had a little bit of a slow start last year, but she matured
so much over the winter. She is so much more relaxed.”
No doubt about it.
Kissin In The Sand was taking on a
giant in Caviart Ally. The same Caviart Ally who defeated Horse of the Year
Shartin N in three of her final four 2019 starts. But Kissin In The Sand proved
up to the challenge, sweeping up to take command after the quarter before
cutting out fractions of :54.3 and 1:21.3 before kicking home in :26.1 to win
for the 20th time in 47 career starts. She finished three-quarters-of-a-length
in front of Major Occasion A. Caviart Ally, the 6-5 favorite, never threatened
and finished third. Kissin In The Sand paid $5.20 as the 8-5 second choice in
the wagering. By the time she raced, the track was rated ‘fast’.
“Kissin In The Sand is at the peak of
her career,” said Takter, who intimated her mare would do just fine facing
Caviart Ally and Shartin N throughout 2020. “I think she’s a good, tough mare
who can take tough miles.”
A LITTLE MORE: Andy McCarthy and Gingras both
recorded driving triples on the card while Takter schooled three winner’s
circle visitors. … Wagering was vigorous in the 50-cent Late Pick-4 as a total
of $79,448 was pushed through the windows. … All-source wagering totaled
$2,882,819. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
