M1 - Statesman N Serves Notice at The Meadowlands

There were no stakes finals at The Meadowlands this weekend, but there may have been a budding star that emerged in race 11 on Saturday Night.  Statesman N, who flashed a powerful late kick in his North American debut showed versatility tonight, moving to the lead through a 56.2 half mile and never looking back.  He paced a final quarter on the front end in 26.4 with John Campbell at the lines.  It's safe to say, the gelded son of Christian Cullen will be on to bigger and better things in the future.

There is little doubt who the driver of the week was at the Meadowlands.  Corey Callahan followed his four wins on Friday with a three-peat on Saturday.  He continues his stellar 2013 season, as he continues to lead all North American drivers in wins and earnings.

Once again, the Meadowlands eclipsed the wagering mark from 2012, showing an increase of $348, 915 or 14 percent, despite having one less race than a year ago.  Racing returns Friday with first post time of 7:15 P.M.

YR - LEVY MEMORIAL SERIES OPENS WITH A SIX-PACK

BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Saturday, March 23, 2013--Yonkers Raceway's George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series, 2013 edition, began Saturday night. A half-dozen, $50,000 divisions of Free-For-Allers went before the faithful, chronologically contested as such...   

First division--Odd-on Versado (Brian Sears, $3) toyed with his five rivals, two-moving to the lead from his outside starting venue, then widening (:27.2, :56.4, 1:25.2, 1:53.4). He was wrapped-up 4 1/2 lengths in front of Stonehouse Adam (Yannick Gingras), with Rockin' Robert (Jordan Stratton) third.

Versado, a 6-year-old Dragon Again gelding owned by KDM Stables and trained by Nick Surick, is now 6-for-11 this season. The exacta (two wagering choices) paid $5, with the triple returning $23.40. 

Second division--Millionaire Annie'swesterncard (Gingras, $2.80), in play from post position No. 5 (:27.4, :57.1, 1:25.2), held sway by a neck over Dancin' Yankee (Sears) in a 1:53.1 match race. It was some six lengths back to In Commando (George Brennan).  

"Annie," a 7-year-old Western Hanover gelding co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 and Panhellenic Stables, has won half of his seasonal starts. The exacta paid $8.50, with the triple returning $25.40.

Third division--Nob Hill High (Eric Goodell, $21) did the hard way. Unhurried from post No. 5, he came first-up against 3-5 choice Clear Vision (Gingras). That one had taken over from early leader Electrofire (Sears) after a :27.4 opening quarter, then found a :57.1 half and 1:25.2 three-quarters.

Nob Hill High was a drifting neck in front of a pylon-skimming Forever Just (Tim Tetrick), in 1:54.2 with Clear Vision fading to third.

Fourth choice Nob Hill High, a 7-year-old McArdle gelding trained by Bruce Saunders for co-owners/breeders Robert Mondillo and Donald Robinson, is now 2-for-10 this season. The exacta paid $97.50, with the triple returning $218.50.

Fourth division--People's preference Something for Doc (Gingras, $4.90), who's been doing good work in the local Open Handicaps, was dominant--as in 5 1/2  lengths--on the front end. Nose on gate from post No. 3, he rolled though intervals of :27.1, :58, 1:25 and  1:52.4.

Bet on the Law (Sears) was second, with Second Wind N (Tetrick) rallying for third and Sapphire City (Brent Holland) a tiring fourth after gapping from the pocket.

"Doc," a 5-year-old Western Hanover gelding trained by Burke for co-owners himself (as Burke Racing), Weaver Bruscemi and Strollin' Stables, has four wins in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $20, the triple returned $66.50 and the superfecta paid $142. 

 Fifth division--Code Word (Sears, $8.70), from outside post No. 7, worked out a second-over trip to win in 1:55. Sea Venture (Brennan), after stinging both 2-5 choice Casimir Jitterbug (Goodell) and last season's series winner, Atochia (Gingras) through quick early fractions (:27.1, :56.4) , moved from third.

He challenged Atochia toward the 1:25.3 three-quarters, before Code Word vaulted on by. He won by a length-and-a-half in 1:55. EZ Noah (Tetrick), at 35-1, photoed Casimir Jitterbug for second, with Atochia fading to sixth. 

Second choice Code Word, a 6-year-old son of Western Terror trained by Conor Flynn for co-owners Barbara Bongiorno, Bill Lambos and Dionisios Liberatos, has won five of his 10 '13 tries. The exacta paid $145, with the triple returning $364.50.

Sixth division--Second choice Razzle Dazzle (Sears, $6.10), leaving hard from post No. 4, was determined to cut the mile against pole-sitting, 3-5 season-debuting Foiled Again (Gingras).

After a 27-second opening quarter, Razzle Dazzle rated a :29.3 next interval (:56.3 half) before finding a 1:24.4 three-quarters The leader gained some separation, taking a 2¾ -length lead into the lane.

He whipped the sport's all-time richest pacer by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. Our Cullenscrown N (Tetrick) was third, with I Found My Beach (Holland) fourth.

Razzle Dazzle, a 6-year-old Real Desire gelding trained by Mark Silva for owner Ira Kristel, it was his first win a pair of seasonal starts. The exacta paid $12.80, the triple returned $37 and the superfecta paid $125.50.

The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available around the NYRA schedule.

 

M1 - $3 Million/Callahan Highlight Meadowlands Friday

Much has been said regarding The Meadowlands betting handle in the last few days.  On Friday night, the bettors made a statement of their own.  The total handle of $3,229,341 eclipsed the 2012 same day total of $2,301,594 by $927,747 or 40 percent.  In addition it was the 2^nd best bet Friday card of the 2013 betting season and the 15^th time the total handle has eclipsed $3 Million this season.

On the racetrack, it was the Corey Callahan show, as Callahan won four races and it would have been five if not for Tonato of Love going off-stride near the wire of the first race.  Callahan is having a monster 2013 campaign and has asserted himself as one of the top drivers on harness racing’s biggest stage.

Among Friday's Meadowlands features was the third round of the Rags to Riches series.  After having victory snatched from his grasp in the first race, Corey Callahan dusted himself off and climbed aboard favored Cane Ridge in race two, the first Rags To Riches division.

A quick opener of :26.2 left little question of Callahan's intentions, though Laguna Beach found himself without a seat when the music quieted and raced parked out. A generous :58.2 middle half breather left Cane Ridge the energy to sprint home in :27.2 with minimal effort to equal his career best of 1:52.1.

Doug Dilloian, Jr. has his charge in excellent form heading into next week's $60,850 final for owner Darius Oshidar of Wrightstown, NJ.

In the second Rags to Riches split, Cambassador rewarded his faithful followers with an impressive forwardly placed romp. John Campbell picked up the mount tonight for owner-trainer Mark Silva and moved the winner to the front just by the quarter. From there on he endured nary an anxious moment guiding the slight favorite to a geared down score over double leg winner Hopskipanajump in 1:52.2.

Ice Machine has developed into a solid top class trotter and he doesn't mind a little air. He drew a middle post in the $30,000 trotting feature and Callahan left for position, landing fourth in the early stages. The presence of heavy favorite Tall Cotton on the lead off a leisurely :58- first half did not deter Ice Machine's brave first over assault. He wore down the favorite in late stretch and held off the late charge of Opening Night to prevail in 1:54.1.

Ice Machine is a graduate of the Bob Key academy for top horses, being part of a family Key has cultivated for several generations.

 It was just one of three training wins on the night for Walt Carroll. He also sent out Spectator K for Mr. Key and Westside Lindy, who he and wife Beth own in partnership with Jonathan Klee Racing.

The distaff pacing feature was won by...wait for it...Corey Callahan! This one was with the good mare Monochromatic for Delaware connections; trainer Dylan Davis and owners North Street Stables.  It was an action-filled event for Monochromatic, used hard to make front well past a demanding :26- first quarter, then yielding to a well-meant Unred Hanover for a pocket breather. She mustered another move in deep stretch when called upon and prevailed by a neck in 1:51.2.

Racing returns with a twelve race program on Saturday featuring harness racing’s best bet, the $75,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 with Post Time at 7:15 P.M.