By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Dexter Dunn
went for a Sunday drive on Friday night at The Meadowlands, rating a slow
enough pace to allow Handlelikeaporsche to hold off 4-5 favorite Lifes A Puzzle
at the wire in the $30,000 second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for
2-year-old colts and geldings on the pace.
The son of Lazarus N-The Signature
used the rail to his advantage as if he were racing on a half-mile track,
securing the top around the first turn before reaching the quarter in a
leisurely :29.2 as Lifes A Puzzle (Tim Tetrick) sat in the pocket.
There was no action to the half,
which went in :58, or three-quarters, which went in 1:25.3. Given the fact that
Handlelikeaporsche closed in :26.1 when beaten two weeks ago by Lifes A Puzzle,
it would prove tough to catch him this time around.
Lifes A Puzzle almost pulled it off,
closing in :25.4, but came up a neck short. Voukefalas was third.
Both Handlelikeaporsche and Lifes A
Puzzle now have one win from two lifetime starts, with one win against the
other in the NJSS. Handlelikeaporsche, the 9-5 second choice who is trained by
Chris Ryder, paid $5.80 to win after completing the mile in 1:51.3.
There were also two $30,000 NJSS
splits for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot.
The first was taken by Celebrity
Bambino, a son of Muscle Hill-Celebrity Ruth, in 1:53. Driven by Yannick
Gingras and trained by Ron Burke, Celebrity Bambino, the 7-2 third choice in
the wagering, sat a pocket trip before going by leader Ari Ferrari J on the way
to a 1¾-length win over Dire Straits, who rallied to get second.
Oh Well was ultra-impressive taking
the other division for trotting males, overcoming post nine. Driven by Tetrick
for trainer Marcus Melander, the son of Muscle Hill-Fine Tuned Lady made a big
move around the far turn to get into contention, then continued to chip away at
leader Up Your Deo’s edge before nailing that one at the wire by a head in
1:54.1 as the even-money favorite.
A LITTLE MORE: There were no winning tickets sold in
the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $8,415 for Saturday. Those with
five correct collected $97.50. … Once again, there was only winning ticket sold
in the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7, but the sequence was anything but
longshot-laden. The winner’s odds were 2-1, 2-1, 2-1, 6-5, 6-1, 2-1 and 9-5.
That sharp player walked away with $8,202. … Andy McCarthy led the driver colony
with three victories, including a sweep of the late double, which returned
$143.00. … All-source handle totaled $2,275,512. … Racing resumes Saturday at
6:20 p.m. with a fantastic 13-race card that includes four Graduate Series
finals (for purses totaling $750,000) plus two eliminations for the $600,000
Meadowlands Pace.
