By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Driver Tim
Tetrick was firing on all cylinders Thursday night at The Meadowlands, guiding
four winners on the nine-race program, including two of four New Jersey Sire
Stakes divisions.
The 40-year-old pilot got things
started in the second race with Wall Of Blue, a Jim King Jr. trainee who took
the lead at the half and cruised down the road from there to a safe
three-quarter-length tally over Make Sweet Magic in 1:53 in the first of four
second leg $30,000 NJSS splits for 2-year-old fillies.
Wall Of Blue, a daughter of Lazarus
N-Misssomebeach Blue, paid $2.60 as the 1-5 favorite in taking the second of
two divisions for pacers.
“She’s nice,” said Tetrick. “She’s an
overachiever and has come a long way since early in the year. She’s got enough
power. She raced well last week but got a little lost on the outside [when a
three-wide bid got her a third-place finish].”
Did you have reservations about
racing on the lead, given the horse’s inexperience? “Racing is different
than it was even two years ago. If you want to win these days, you have to be up
close.”
Tetrick then scored in the next race
with the trotter Grand Fashion, a Jim Campbell student who scored in 1:55.1.
She went parked past the quarter on the lead and never had an anxious moment,
scoring by 2 lengths over Southwind Cherry.
The daughter of Walner-Broadway
Schooner returned $3.80 as the 4-5 public choice.
“Campbell is a great horseman,” said
Tetrick. “Every year, he comes up with quality stock. This horse has a great
pedigree. She’s got speed and is pretty nice.”
Fans of “The Bionic Man” then had to
wait until the eighth race to get back in the win column, but the reward was
worth the wait, as Tetrick steered Illini Duke to victory at odds of 4-1 in a
TrackMaster 74 pace in 1:53.2.
His completed his four-bagger in the
finale, as the Hall of Fame pilot guided 1-9 chalk – and back classmaster –
Machdavid to victory lane in 1:51.1 in a low-end conditioned pace. The Tetrick
late double returned $8.20.
Scott Zeron had himself a big night
as well, scoring three times on the card.
In the first pacing event, he guided
Ucandoit Blue Chip (Keystone Velocity-Molly Can Do It) to her second straight
NJSS score in the first race for trainer Linda Toscano as the 4-5 betting
choice in 1:52.
“The Money Man” then cashed in with
Shaving Mug as the 5-2 second choice in a TrackMaster 70 pace in the fifth
before capping his three-bagger in the next race with 3-5 favorite Cultured in
an overnight for 2-year-old filly pacers in 1:53.1 to give Toscano a training
double.
A LITTLE MORE: Walner Payton (Walner-Lonely Lady)
took the other NJSS trot for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Chris Ryder in
1:54.1, nudging past even-money choice Secret Volo at the wire by a nose as the
2-1 second choice. … Despite a 1-9 chance grabbing the brass ring (Machdavid),
the ninth race 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta returned $1,725.37. … All-source handle
totaled $1,050,109. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.
-30-
PHOTO: Grand Fashion takes a division
of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies at The
Meadowlands Thursday night, one of four winners on the card for driver Tim
Tetrick. (Credit: Lisa Photo)
