By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – In what is now
unquestionably harness racing’s best rivalry, Atlanta bested Manchego in
Saturday night’s $170,900 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for free-for-allers at the
Meadowlands in Round 2 of the rabid duel between the top two trotters in
training.
Two weeks ago, Manchego held off
Atlanta by a nose in the Miss Versatility in the fastest trotting mile of the
year of 1:50. Things panned out similarly this time around, except that Atlanta
got the better of her foe this time around.
Atlanta (post five) was the first
away from the gate and led into the first turn. Driver Yannick Gingras was
willing to yield to Manchego (post six) and Dexter Dunn, but not before
extending that one ever so slightly into a sizzling opening quarter of :25.4.
“Maybe not :25.4,” was Gingras’
response when asked about the fast opening fraction. “I didn’t think we’d be
going that fast. I definitely wanted to stretch her out. I had drawn inside of
her and wanted to take advantage of it.”
That took just enough starch out of
the even-money choice.
While rating the middle half,
Manchego took a stiff challenge from 17-1 longshot Chin Chin Hall, who was on
even terms with the leader while parked at three-quarters in 1:23.1.
Once straightened away in the
stretch, Manchego and Atlanta – who opted to get behind Chin Chin Hall coming
out of the far turn before swerving three-wide into the lane – would once again
duke it out, just as they did on June 19.
In deep stretch, it would be Atlanta,
the 2018 Hambletonian winner, prevailing by a half-length in 1:50.1, just a
fifth-of-a-second slower than Round 1. Lindy The Great rallied to get third.
“There were some anxious moments
around the last turn,” said Gingras. “We were going pretty slow, and there was
strategy on both sides. He was trying to keep me locked in. Thankfully, I was
able to squeeze out. I thought I had it won at the top of the stretch when I
cleared.”
The Ron Burke-trained Atlanta, a
5-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven-Hemi Blue Chip, returned $5.40 as the 8-5
second choice in the wagering. She’s won 21 of 41 career starts for owners
Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor, and became harness
racing’s newest double millionaire, as her earnings swelled to $2,006,089.
WHO WILL GRADUATE? Bettor’s Wish, harness racing’s top
earner ($1.6 million) in 2019, won the third of three $50,000 divisions of the
second and final leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old open pacers in
1:48.2.
The Chris Ryder-trained, Dexter
Dunn-driven son of Bettor’s Delight-Lifetime Star swung three-wide at
three-quarters and stormed home in :25.3 to record a 2-length score over Workin
Ona Mystery as the 1-5 favorite.
Brassy Hanover came first over around
the far turn to pull off an upset in the first division. Driven by Scott Zeron
and trained by Jeff Cullipher, Brassy Hanover, sent to the gate at odds of
10-1, stopped the clock in a lifetime-best 1:48.1. Hurrikane Emperor was the
6-5 favorite and led at three-quarters before settling for the show dough.
Division two was taken by 12-1 chance
Bllack Hole. Tim Tetrick drove the winner for trainer Scott DiDomenico and
paced the mile in a lifetime-best 1:48. Dancin Lou, the 3-5 favorite, yielded
the front before three-quarters and finished third.
The Graduate Finals for pacers and
trotters will take place next Saturday (July 11). Each has a purse of $250,000.
KEEPING PACE: Brett Pelling’s potent Meadowlands
Pace pair did good things, as his Allywag Hanover was shot out of a cannon late
to win in a lifetime-best 1:48, while Papi Rob Hanover, currently second-ranked
in the track’s weekly Road to the Meadowlands Pace Top 10, went a tough 10-hole
trip yet was still crisp late, finishing second to the sharp Tony
Alagna-trained Capt Midnight, who won in a lifetime-best 1:49.3.
The Meadowlands Pace Eliminations are
next Saturday (July 11).
A LITTLE MORE: Wagering surpassed the $3-million
mark for the fifth time in 2020, as a total of $3,027,797 was pushed through
the windows. … The Late 50-cent Pick-4 took monster action, as $113,121
was put in play. The only Pick-4 to take more action during 2020 was on Feb. 1,
when $117,502 in bets were taken. … Racing resumes Friday at 7:15 p.m.
