Dead Heat in Reynolds Memorial at Big M

All four of the W. Reynolds and Mary Reynold Memorial divisions at the Meadowlands Friday evening (July 1) saw lifetime marks registered by the three-year-old harness racing trotters. Many of whom are eligible to the prestigious Hambletonian.

But not even the photo finish camera could declare the winner of the 3^rd race division for filly trotters as both Manon (Bar Hopping) and Raised By Lindy (Walner) finished in a dead heat for win.

The $35,600 second division for three-year-old fillies saw Misswalner Fashion (Brian Sears) grab the early lead only to be passed by Raised By Lindy and driver Yannick Gingras to the first quarter in :27.1.

Then on to the half mile in :55.3 as Penelope J (Troy Beyer), who was trapped first-over from the start, started to gain on Raised By Lindy and drew last year’s Dan Patch Award Winner, Venerable (David Miller) second-over as they passed the three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Raised By Lindy looked to be a winner in the stretch until Manon and driver Tim Tetrick came flying from fifth place in the stretch to collar Raised By Lindy at the wire for the dead head in 1:51.1. Venerable was three-quarters of a length back in third place.

DEAD HEAT REPLAY

For unbeaten Manon, it was her fifth straight win this season for trainer Lucas Wallin. She is owned by Harbor Racing Stable of Aurora, ON and paid $3.00 to win.

“She’s been super this year,” said Wallin. “This was her first big test. She got a little sore last year, so we decided to turn her out and bring her back this year. We have a patient owner, so it worked out. I think tonight she showed she belongs [in the Hambletonian Oaks]. That’s the main goal.”

Raised By Lindy is trained by Domenico Cecere for Lindy Farms of Conn who also bred the filly. She paid $2.60 to win.

The 1^st race first division of the Mary Reynolds with a purse of $35,600 saw Bare My Soul (Scott Zeron) leave from post nine and take control of the lead with Baptism (Southwind Frank, Ake Svanstedt) also leaving and getting the two-hole tuck to the first-quarter in :27.1.

Going to the half mile, Delilah Hanover (Todd McCarthy) started up first-over with Fashion Schooner (Tim Tetrick) second-over past the half in :56. That then flushed More Than Ever (Dexter Dunn) to come first-over by the three-quarters in 1:24.2.

That wore down Bare My Soul and More Than Ever was able to grab the lead in the stretch and then Svanstedt got clearance with Baptism and they trotted on to win by three-quarters of a lengths in 1:51.3. Fashion Schooner, the race favorite, was second with Delilah Hanover third.

BAPTISM REPLAY

Baptism posted her fourth straight win for Team Svanstedt and owners Diamond Creek Racing and Crossover Racing. She paid $18.80 to win.

The $36,650 first division of the W.N. Reynolds Memorial for the colts was the 2^nd race saw Looks Like Moni and driver Andy McCarthy take command with Periculum (Mattias Melander) sitting the pocket to the quarter in :27.3.

They raced single file to the half in :56.2 and then Ake Svanstedt came first-over with Finn Palema with the 2021 Dan Patch 2YO Colt Trotter of the Year, Fast As The Wind, getting the second-over trip to the three-quarters in 1:24.3.

As they started down the stretch, Looks Like Moni went off-stride, giving the lead to Finn Palema, who was then passed by Fast As The Wind and then flying from fifth place was Rebuff (Muscle Hill) and driver Tim Tetrick as they came on to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.3. Fast As The Wind was second with Finn Palema third.

REBUFF REPLAY

It was the first start of the year for Rebuff and a lifetime mark for the colt, trained by Lucas Wallin for Kjell Magne Anderson, Lucas Wallin and Peter Delis. He paid $9.80 to win.

“The trip worked out perfect,” said Wallin of the live cover journey right on the favorite’s back. “We actually wanted to stretch him out with the Hambletonian Eliminations coming up in four weeks. I was pretty confident he was going to do well. He has been training super. Rebuff is so good-gaited, he doesn’t need too many races to have a good performance.”

The $37,150 4^th race second colt division of the Reynolds B A Superhero (Muscle Hill) and driver Tim Tetrick strong-arm their way to the lead in :26.3, then face a first-over challenge by Majestic J (Dexter Dunn) past the half mile in :54.4.

After a three-quarters in 1:23.3, B A Superhero pulled away from the field and kept it up down the stretch to win with ease by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:51.2. Classic Hill (Brian Sears) was second with Majestic J third.

B A SUPERHERO REPLAY

It was the third win in just six starts this year for B A Superhero. He is trained by Lucas Wallin and is owned by Winning Key, Inc. of Leechburg, PA and was bred by Robert Key. He paid $5.20 to win.

“In the [May 27] New Jersey Sire Stakes Final [when he finished fifth behind winner Pretender], we gambled a little and put a different bridle on him and he got a little too grabby,” said Wallin. “Then, we gave him a few weeks off. He did race well last week [when fifth with older foes], so I was really confident coming into tonight.”

BIG BETTING: All-source wagering surpassed the $3-million mark for the 13^th time from 49 Big M race cards in 2022, as a total of $3,100,260 was pushed through the windows on the 14-race program.

Betting was especially vigorous on the first race, as $407,555 was put in play, $94,695 of that in the 20-cent Pick-5.

A LITTLE MORE: Driving the Svanstedt-trained Incommunicado, 24-year-old provisional driver Emanuel Miller recorded his first-ever Meadowlands victory in the fifth race, returning $17.80 to his faithful. … Tetrick’s three victories led the driver colony. Braxten Boyd and Mark MacDonald had two apiece. … Wallin’s three scores were tops among the trainers while Svanstedt had a pair. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink, with files from Dave Little