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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Jordan Stratton had the hot hand Friday night at The Meadowlands, as the 36-year-old pilot led the driver colony with three winners from his 12 starters on the card.
Windsun Mojito, a 5-year-old by He’s Watching-Artistic Melody, gave Stratton his first winner of the night in the second race in 1:53.1 in a TrackMaster 74 fillies and mares pace. Jordan’s brother Cory trained the winner, who returned $4.60 to her backers as the 6-5 public choice.
WINDSUN MOJITO REPLAY
“There was a speedball up front,” said Jordan. “She came off cover and won pretty handily.”
The amazing Sgt Papa Daddy (Rockin Image-Little Tootsie) recorded his third straight win at the $7,500 claiming pace level in 1:52.3 for the brothers Stratton. The 10-year-old gelding returned $2.40 as the 1-5 favorite in the seventh race.
“He’s been around for a long time,” said Jordan. “He’s as sharp as can be. Cory has a great eye for claimers.”
SGT PAPA DADDY REPLAY
The sport’s hottest claiming commodity was taken for a third straight race, this time by trainer Ron Harmon, and if he wins next week, that would be four straight victories in four different barns.
Jordan’s third and final win of the night came with the Anette Lorentzon-trained Some Chapter (Chapter Seven-Some Kinda Special) in the 10th. The 7-year-old gelding scored in the featured mid-range conditioned trot in 1:54.2, paying $3.80 as the 4-5 chalk.
“I was a little surprised at how heavy he was favored because he’d been off for more than a month,” said Jordan. “But he has a history of racing at The Meadowlands and he loves to trot home.”
SOME CHAPTER REPLAY
It could have been a monster night for Jordan, who finished second four times on the card, which included missing a nose with Shinkansen in the third race and Plzdontlietome N in the 13th.
“Shinkansen got used hard out of the gate and got rough on the far turn,” said Jordan. “I drove Plzdontlietome N like a 3-5 shot and it didn’t work out.”
Jordan, whose 220 wins were good for fourth in the Yonkers driver colony during 2023, also did some good work at The Big M last year, winning 49 races, which was ninth in the standings.
CARRY ON: Saturday night, multi-leg-bet lovers will have a pair of carryovers to shoot for.
The 20-cent Pick-8 failed to yield a winning ticket for a third straight program, creating a carryover of $5,022. Those with six correct collected $25.68.
The 20-cent Pick-6 will start out with $3,699 in the hat. Tickets with five winning selections were exchanged for $1,233.30.
A LITTLE MORE: Pat Lachance and Tyler Miller each drove a pair to victory lane. … Lachance matched Cory Stratton’s two training victories. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $3,228,629. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
For complete race results, click here: US Trotting entries.
by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands
