By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – With the
exception of what route he took through the stretch, Chin Chin Hall made it two
wins in his last three tries in the Saturday night feature, the $36,000 Open
Trot, at The Meadowlands Saturday night after going a four-hole trip.
The Cash Hall-Canland Hall product
won this event on Sept. 4 by swerving to the center of the track and
methodically making his way to the lead nearing the finish. This time around,
he waited for room along the inside and as horses vacated their spots along the
pylons, Chin Chin Hall closed with a rush to get his seventh win of the season
from just 17 starts.
“I just wanted to get away as close
as possible,” said driver Victor Kirby. “Things were good, especially when the
rail opened up. He just punched home. He does what you ask him, but you have to
ask him.”
Lovedbythemasses, the even-money
favorite, went to the lead seeking his second straight Open score, but on a
night when the track bias was unkind to horses racing on the point, he could
not maintain his edge and ended up finishing 4th in a four-way photo
in the six-horse field.
Chin Chin Hall, a Nifty Norman
trainee, has filled his fans pockets with green, returning $17.40 to win as the
fourth choice in the wagering two weeks after paying $35.40. Crystal Fashion
was a neck back in second with Big Oil third. The time for the mile was 1:51.4
for the 5-year-old gelding, who is owned by Oldford Racing and David McDuffee.
He now has 12 wins from 43 lifetime starts and earnings of $656,040.
On the undercard, Vettel N stayed in
striking position through the stretch and just got up in a three-way photo to
take the $100,000-$150,000 claiming handicap pace for a second consecutive
week.
The 8-year-old gelded son of American
Ideal-Talk To Angels lowered his lifetime-best to 1:48.3 in defeating Twin B
Tuffenuff by a nose with 2-1 favorite Semi Tough third. Vettel N, who was
driven by Vinny Ginsburg and is trained by Jenn Bongiorno, returned $10.40 to
his backers as the fourth choice in the betting in winning for the 32nd
time from 125 lifetime tries.
A LITTLE MORE: Kirby led the driver’s colony with
three winners. George Napolitano Jr. and Ginsburg had two apiece. … Edwin
Quevedo and Norman each trained a pair to victory lane. Norman finished the
weekend with five victories … There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent
Pick-6, creating a carryover of $4,002.65. Those with five correct collected
$233.82. … All-source handle totaled $2,231,892. … Racing resumes Friday at
6:20 p.m.
