By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Yacht Seelster
had never been driven by George Brennan, and a week ago, the Nik Drennan
trainee displayed blazing speed before getting nipped at odds of 70-1 on the
money by Colossal Stride A, yet somehow, with a new driver and a different
tactic, Yacht Seelster won the Saturday night feature at The Meadowlands.
“They were leaving too fast for me,”
said Brennan of the early stages of the $20,000 high-end conditioned pace. “I’m
looking for the best trip I can get. And it looked like it was going to work
out for me.”
Lexus Witha View A flew off the gate
to grab the lead at the quarter in :27.1 as Tito Rocks sat the pocket with 9-5
second choice Ashley Locaz N on the move going after the lead. Brennan and
‘Yacht’ sat fifth, right in behind the 8-5 public choice Colossal Stride A,
waiting for that one to make a move.
“I slid in behind him,” said Brennan.
“I thought he was the horse to beat.”
Colossal Stride A had such a quick
burst of speed down the backstretch that Yacht Seelster had to catch up to his
cover, and when Ashley Locaz N did not relinquish the top to Colossal Stride A,
Brennan was sitting pretty.
In mid-stretch, after three-quarters
was timed in an unspectacular 1:23.4, Brennan tipped Yacht Seelster off his
cover and gunned down Colossal Stride A at the wire after Ashley Locaz N
weakened in the lane.
“I didn’t know if I had enough to get
there,” said Brennan. “But [Colossal Stride A] was pretty tough, and some
others were swarming in on the outside. I thought I could get up.”
Racing in the five-path for the final
eighth, Yacht Seelster got there by a head in 1:51. Colossal Stride A was
second with a fast-closing Franco Totem N gabbing the show spot. As the 5-1
fourth choice in the betting, Yacht Seelster returned $13.80 to his backers.
The 6-year-old son of Shadow Play-Yankee Athena, who is owned by Donald
Lindsey, Paul Kleinpaste and William Alempijevic, now has 16 wins from 87
career starts and earnings of $236,600.
A COOL DOZEN: All-source wagering totaled
$3,147,829. There have been 12 Saturday night programs at The Big M this year,
and all 12 have seen betting surpass the $3-million plateau.
A COOL HALF-DOZEN: The 20-cent Pick-6 did not see many
big prices, but those with winning tickets cashed in huge nonetheless. With a
$7,384 carryover serving as the catalyst, the pool totaled $43,520 when all
bets were taken. After a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 3-2, 5-2, 5-1, 4-1,
9-5 and 8-5, those who hit walked away with $6,568.
A LITTLE MORE: Five drivers accounted for 10 of the
13 winners on the program as Simon Allard, Yannick Gingras, Corey Callahan,
Andy McCarthy and Todd McCarthy all scored twice. … Racing resumes Friday at
6:20 p.m.
