A trio of series finals and another big performance by free-for-aller Golden Receiver highlighted Saturday night's harness racing card at Meadowlands Racetrack.
Returning to action after sweeping the Presidential Series in January, Golden Receiver romped to a 1:51.2 triumph over a sloppy track in the $30,000 Free For All Pace.
Tim Tetrick guided the popular eight-year-old Village Jove gelding through fractions of :28, :55.4 and 1:23.2 while turning back a first over challenge from Mr Hasani N (John Campbell) en route to the three and a half length victory. River Shark (David Miller) and Abelard Hanover (Corey Callahan) closed well for second and third.
The Mark Harder trainee, who is now a perfect five-for-five in 2013, went over the $1.7 million career earnings mark with his 54th victory for New York owners Our Horse Cents Stables and breeder Nina Simmonds.
Golden Receiver's stablemate Real Babe took her turn in the spotlight next posting a 1:57.2 victory in the $47,800 final of the Charles Singer Memorial Trotting Series.
Overcoming an outside post 10 start, Real Babe set up shop on the front end and rolled through fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:27.2 while rebuffing the first over 72-1 longshot Our Mojo (Brandon Simpson). She cruised home to notch her sixth career win and boost her bankroll to $270,278. Volare De Vie (Jim Meittinis) finished one and a quarter lengths behind in second off a pocket trip while No Less Than Magic (Pat Lachance) rallied wide from the backfield to show.
The four-year-old Donato Hanover mare, who posted a win in the first leg of the series on Feb. 7 and an third-place effort in round two on Feb. 14, was purchased for $200,000 at the 2012 Standardbred Mixed Sale in Harrisburg to eventually become a broodmare for Australia's Emilio and Maria Rosati. She is four-for-six on the year and has yet to miss a paycheque.
The Exit 16W Series wrapped up midway through the card with top honours and the lion's share of the $60,200 purse going to Mr Dennis and driver Andy Miller.
Hang Ten (John Campbell) was the first to fire, but Holdingallthecards (Tim Tetrick), perfect in the Clyde Hirt Series and opening legs of the Exit 16W, took over command at the :27.2 first quarter mark. However, Yo Cheyenne Rocky (Brandon Simpson) rushed from third to first down the backstretch and reached the half in :55.4. Meanwhile, Mr Dennis moved underway from fifth, advanced to the top before the 1:24.1 third-quarter mark and then opened up a pair of lengths to secure the victory. The winning time was 1:52.3. Lindwood Player (Corey Callahan) came on for second and Yo Cheyenne Rocky finished third.
Nick Surick trains the four-year-old Dragon Again gelding, who finished third and fourth in the opening legs of the series, missing by just a neck both times. The Florida-based JL Benson Stables Inc. acquired the winner of seven races and $105,460 in purses prior to a dead-heat third-place finish in the Clyde Hirt finale in late January. He was a $110,000 purchase at the January Tattersalls Mixed Sale.
The $86,700 Winter Survivor final for $15,000 claimers later wrapped up the Saturday series action with Oil Magnet streaking to his seventh win in a row for driver Yannick Gingras.
Entrymate Killer Quakes (Corey Callahan) fired off a :26.4 opening panel before Veal Marsala (Simon Allard) took over command from third en route to the :55.1 half-mile mark. As the field raced down the backstretch, Gingras sent Oil Magnet first over from fourth and edged by Veal Marsala at the 1:24.3 third-quarter mark. The nine-year-old Western Hanover gelding opened up a pair of lengths into the stretch and then held off the late-closers to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. Fellow Ron Burke trainee Boiler Bob The QB (David Miller) closed from the backfield for second and Four Starz Q (Eric Carlson) finished third.
Oil Magnet, now five-for-five this year, has won 23 races lifetime while banking $328,610. He was acquired by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Pennsylvania in December 2012.
The winner will likely be heading to Yonkers Raceway next, as he rounds back into form from a suspensory injury, where he is expected to try his hand against the $40,000 to $50,000 claimers.
The $3 million plateau has now become the norm at the Meadowlands, as the total all sources handle of $3,621,796 marked an increase of 25 per cent from the $2,905,427 bet on this same Saturday in 2012. The live handle was also up once again. In addition to the successful night at the Meadowlands, Winners Bayonne had its most successful day since its opening, including an additional $29,129 wagered on the Meadowlands at that facility.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
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