Photo finish camera needed in Big M co-feature

Despite a sloppy, rain-soaked harness racing track with a strong head wind in the backstretch and a two-second allowance, it took the photo finish camera to declare Handlelikeaporsche (Lazarus N) a nose winner in the $40,000 Home Grown for two-year-old pacing colts Friday (Nov. 11) at The Meadowlands.

The Home Grown was one of four special stakes events for two-year-olds at The Meadowlands Friday.

The non-wagering race featured the two top sons of Lazarus N against each other. Voukefalas and driver Jordan Stratton was first on the lead with Handlelikeaporsche and driver Dexter Dunn sitting the pocket-trip.

By the first quarter in :27.4, Voukefalas and Handlelikeaporsche separated from the field at the half in :58 and 1:27.2 to the three quarters.

As they started down the stretch, Voukefalas held the lead with Dunn urging Handlelikeaporsche. Inching closer and closer coming to the wire, Handlelikeaporsche just got up in the final strides to the wire in 1:53.3, a :26.1 last quarter with the wind at their backs. Lootable (Tim Tetrick) was third. The first three finishers were all sired by Lazarus N.

HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE REPLAY

It was the fourth win in the last five starts and fifth victory of the year for Handlelikeaporsche. He is trained by Chris Ryder, who co-owns the $100,000 yearling with W. Ezzo, R. Mondillo and Barry Spak.

In the 6^th race $80,000 Garden State for two-year-old trotting colts, Celebrity Bambino (Muscle Hill) was able to wire the field for driver Yannick Gingras nearly as fast as the pacing colts and faster than the pacing fillies.

Parked out by Prince Of Honor (Todd McCarthy) to a :28 opening quarter, Gingras settled Celebrity Bambino on the lead and led to the half in :58.1 and 1:29 to the three-quarters before Prince Of Honor pulled the pocket trip and came after Celebrity Bambino with Kimmeridgian (Ake Svanstedt) coming second-over.

As they started down the stretch, Celebrity Bambino kicked in a :26.1 last quarter mile to win by two lengths in 1:55.1. Prince Of Honor was second with Kimmeridgian third.

CELEBRITY BAMBINO REPLAY

It was the third win in the last four starts for Celebrity Bambino and her fourth win of the year. She is trained by Ron Burke and is co-owned by Burke Racing Stable, J & T Silva Stables, Knoz Services and Paul Collura. She paid $3.00 to win.

The 4^th race featured the $80,000 Garden State for two-year-old pacing fillies and some late action saw the race favorite gun down the field 50 feet to the finish.

Moni Lisa (Scott Zeron) left from post seven to cut the mile with Milliondollarwall (Yannick Gingras) sitting second. They went by the first quarter in :28 and the half in :58.2 and then to the three-quarters in 1:27.4 before anyone moved.

On the final turn The Wise One (Dexter Dunn) came first-over with 6/5 race favorite Blonde Bombshell (Walner) and driver David Miller second over.

As they started down the stretch, The Wise One and Dunn were able to wear down Moni Lisa and take the lead, but Miller had Blonde Bombshell on the outside and she went on to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:56.1. The Wise One was second with Check Her Out (Andy McCarthy) third.

BLONDE BOMBSHELL REPLAY

It was the second win in just four starts for Blonde Bombshell. She is trained by Nifty Norman for owners David Mc Duffee, Mel Hartman and Paul Bordogna. She paid $4.40 to win.

The 2^nd race $40,000 Home Grown Series for two-year-old pacing fillies saw the first upset on the night as Beltara (Stay Hungry) and driver Andy McCarthy were able to hold off the 1/9 favorite Earthwindfire (Tim Tetrick).

Beltara and McCarthy at odds of 6-1 left from the start with Earthwindfire sitting right on their backs through fractions of :29, :59.2 and 1:27.4 with no one challenging from the back of the pack.

As they raced down the stretch, Tetrick urged Earthwindfire after Beltara but McCarthy had his filly in high gear, and she kicked in a :26.2 last quarter over the sloppy track and held off Earthwindfire to win by a head in 1:54.1. Alexa’s Fantasy (Todd McCarthy) was third.

BELTARA REPLAY

It was the fourth win this year for Beltara. She is trained by Robert Cleary for Royal Wire Products, Inc. of North Royalton, Ohio. She paid $15.00 to win.

A LITTLE MORE: Last week, driver Neil Glasser ended a 26-year drought when he guided Thndrfrmthethron N to victory lane in a GSY event. He only had to wait six days to win again, when he scored with the same horse in a GSY dash Friday night in 1:55. Talk about no respect. Last week, Thndrfrmthethron N returned $9.00 to win, this time the win payout was $16.60. … Gingras led the driver colony with four wins on the night. … There were no winning tickets sold in the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $5,068 for Saturday’s card. Those with five correct cashed in for $54.50. … All-source wagering totaled $2,239,579. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m. shortly after the “Celebration of Life” for Dave Brower concludes. The ceremony for the longtime lead Big M TV personality, who passed away five weeks ago at the age of 53, will take place in the winner’s circle and begin at 5:30 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink