American Classic has been an all-or-nothing type of horse of late, but brought his speed show to The Meadowlands and used that high octane to easily win the feature on Saturday, Oct. 21, an $18,000 high-end conditioned pace.
Coming into the race, he showed two wins in his last four starts, with both victories – one at Yonkers Raceway and the other at Harrah’s Philadelphia – coming after the four-year-old gelded son of American Ideal-Tori Hanover opened up a big early lead before maintaining a solid edge all the way to the wire. He finished seventh and eighth in the other two tries after not leaving the gate.
His driver knew what he had to do.
“I looked at the program and I saw the speed was there,” said Joe Bongiorno. “I just thought tonight was a good night to put him on the front. He was very grabby, so I didn’t have any other option. That was the stable’s first start with him. Behind the gate, he wanted to run through it.”
There was a scrum to the quarter, with Three In Heaven A (Daryl Thiessen) at the rail, American Classic alongside and Stonebridge Reef (Patrick Ryder) three-wide vying for the top in :28.1, before American Classic emerged with the lead at the three-eighths.
American Classic then hit the half in :56 while extending his edge to a length-and-a-half and three-quarters in 1:23.2 sprinting clear by 4-1/2 lengths, before hitting the wire two lengths in front of 9-5 favourite Stone Hanover (Corey Callahan), who was closing well after encountering traffic trouble. Stonebridge Reef finished third. The mile was timed in 1:51.1.
“Once I got around Daryl, my intention was to get to the front,” said Bongiorno. “He was super.”
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and the Kitefield Stable, American Classic upped his lifetime stats to 14 wins from 43 starts, good for earnings of $138,781. He returned $10.80 to win as the 4-1 third choice in the wagering.
One night after treating her fans to a $650 score in the Early Pick-4, Jessica Otten was scalding hot, selecting nine winners on top, including the Early Daily Double, two Pick-3s, the Early Pick-4 and a cold exacta (race seven, $38.20). Her best top choice was saved for last when Virtual Kiss paid $10.40 in the 14th race.
Ken Warkentin had seven on top, including American Classic and Toto Hanover ($17).
The 20-cent Pick-8 attracted $2,400 in “new money” after a Friday night carryover, and after the sequence was complete, two winners walked away with a payoff of $1,662.84.
Jason Bartlett was the leading driver with four winners, teaming up three times with Per Engblom, who led all trainers. Corey Callahan finished the weekend with six winners after registering a second straight three-bagger.
All-source wagering on the 14-race card totalled $2,118,378.
Racing resumes on Friday at 6:20 p.m.
(Meadowlands)