By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Southwind
Chrome was sent on a mission by his driver Scott Zeron in the Friday night
feature at the Meadowlands. And he completed it in spectacular fashion.
The 5-year-old son of Chapter
Seven-Counter Pointe won a second straight start in the Preferred for trotters,
as the razor-sharp Jeff Cullipher trainee scored in 1:50.4 after going a
less-than-ideal trip.
There were horses leaving the gate
from the outside, so Zeron had a decision to make early on from post eight.
“I think given the circumstances, it
worked out the way it had to,” said Zeron. “There were not a lot of leavers
mid-pack, so it was either sneak into the four-hole or go to the front. Midway
around the first turn, I decided to go to the lead. He was so good tonight. I figured
I’d make the front and then rate from there.”
But it would not be easy. JL Cruze,
the 5-2 favorite, grabbed the lead at the quarter in a wicked :26.3 as
Southwind Chrome continued his march to the top while uncovered. He did not
clear until the three-eighths.
The half was reached in :55 and
Southwind Chrome was moving well on the point, then Zeron asked for more in an
effort to seal the victory on the far turn. “I figured if I put space between
Dex [Dunn, driving JL Cruze] and I at the five-eighths, I would be able to
cruise down the lane.”
He did just that.
Southwind Chrome opened up a
1¾-length edge at three-quarters after rating the third fraction in :28 and
upped his lead to 2½ at the head of the stretch. Southwind Chrome’s advantage
diminished in deep stretch as JL Cruze was closing in, but still held on by a
safe neck. Kenziesky Hanover was third.
“When you have a good horse, you just
want to know the other horses’ form,” said Zeron. “I knew my horse was at the
top of his game.”
Southwind Chrome, who is heading for
next week’s $200,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at the Big M, paid $9.20 to win
as the second choice in the betting and now has 13 wins from 36 career starts
and earnings of $230,210 for owners Pollack Racing and Jeff Cullipher.
NJSS WRAP UP: The second leg of the New Jersey Sire
Stakes for 3-year-olds saw four divisions on the Friday card, and filly pacer
Odds On Sarasota (Rock N Roll Heaven-Odds On Charmaine) stayed perfect in two
sire stakes starts this year by finding room late along the pylons to win in
1:55 as the 4-5 favorite for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Ross Croghan.
Rockin The Aces (Rock N Roll
Heaven-Mattaroni) came from way back at odds of 17-1 to gun down 1-9 public
choice Rock Me Hard in deep stretch in the colts and geldings pace in a
lifetime-best 1:51.2 for Brian Sears and Robert Cleary.
Ab’sattitudexpress was sent to the
top by Yannick Gingras and blew away the field at odds of 7-1 for Lucas Wallin
in the filly trot. The daughter of Trixton-Abbie’sgotattidtude stopped the
clock in a lifetime-best 1:52.4.
After racing wide around the first
turn, 2-5 favorite Play Trix On Me was a dominant winner in the colts and
geldings trot. The son of Trixton-Lima Playmate equaled his lifetime best of
1:53.2 for Zeron and Linda Toscano, the Hall of Famer who was celebrating a
birthday.
A LITTLE MORE: Former Meadowlands leading drivers
Sears and George Brennan, who were winless in 39 and 22 starts, respectively,
both won for the first time at the meet. … The Big M’s “Big 4” multi-leg wagers
were popular, as the 20-cent Pick-5 ($74,907), 20-cent Pick-6 ($32,872 with
some help from a $8,948 carryover), Early 50-cent Pick-4 ($78,906) and Late
50-cent Pick-4 ($78,087) all took big play. Wagering for the 13-race card
totaled $2,837,178, upping the Big M’s streak of at least $2.5 million in
handle to 14. … Racing resumes Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
