On a cold and crisp, yet windless, Friday night at The Meadowlands a couple of new shooters took the $30,000 overnight features, both in front-stepping fashion.
The top trot was carded as race two and Ontario-bred Twin B Spike Man handled his initial ascension to the Free For All ranks with aplomb. A convincing winner against the B-1 class last week, Twin B Spike Man responded to a confident steer by Mike Simons with a superb 1:51.1 mile, lowering his career-best by over two seconds in the process.
Sent up hard by Simons after DWs NY Yank past the :55.1 half, Twin B Spike Man cleared and kept rolling along through the third panel in :27.4 and widened his advantage through the stretch to coast in by a half over Modern Family, who was locked in but finished with very strong trot as the 9-10 favourite. DWs NY Yank checked in third.
At age seven, the Ken Warkentin gelding has found his best form for the Mike Simons / Gail Wrubel tandem, having eclipsed his 2013 earnings total already this season and is now in excess of $45,000 in just seven starts. Simons owns the stable star in partnership with Daniel Eccleston and Albert Abdella III.
The Free For All debut of American In Paris went as well against the finest pacing mares The Meadowlands has to offer.
Yannick Gingras wheeled her from an early tuck in third to wrestle the lead from Monkey On My Wheel after a snappy :26.2 opener. From there it was a comfortable pace until very late stretch and the wire arrived just in time to save a 1:50.3 decision over the fast-closing Keepers Destiny. Monkey On My Wheel saved third to complete a two-three sweep for trainer Andrew Harris.
American In Paris remains unbeaten in 2014 and her third seasonal score puts her over $100,000 in career earnings. She races out of the Burke Stable and is owned in partnership with Weaver Bruscemi.
Corey Callahan won three races on the night, while Trace Tetrick, Scott Zeron, Dave Miller and Yannick Gingras shared the wealth, all with driving doubles.
Total handle for the Friday card eclipsed $3 million at $3,181,196 for the 13-race program. Racing resumes Saturday, with a 13-race card featuring Golden Receiver, who headlines a Free For All Handicap Pace, and the second round of the Buddy Gilmour Pacing Series. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
To view Friday's results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)