Go Go Grasshopper strikes again at Big M

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Grasshoppers use their strong jaws to chew leaves, which is fitting for the Joe Bongiorno-trained and driven Go Go Grasshopper (Sweet Lou), who chewed up his harness racing opponents in the shadow of the wire to take the Saturday night feature at The Meadowlands, a $17,500 high-end conditioned pace.

“Things didn’t work out for him this year,” said Bongiorno. “We missed most of the stakes season with him, but now, he’s a top horse getting back into form.”

The 3-year-old ridgling by Sweet Lou-Faster Faster, off a sparkling score from just off the pace a week ago, did the same thing again, only this time facing better company.

Go Go Grasshopper, Bondi Lockdown A and 3-5 favorite Sugar Man were all away from the gate well in the nine-horse field, as ‘Grasshopper’ reached the quarter in :27. Sugar Man then vacated the three-hole and sprinted to the top just after the three-eighths before Lyons Steel then took the point while parked at the half in :55.2.

They lined up Lyons Steel-Sugar Man-Go Go Grasshopper as they went by three-quarters in 1:23.3.

“I figured I’d be in the two-hole behind Brett [Beckwith, driving Sugar Man], but Jordan [Stratton, driving Lyons Steel] power-moved his horse. I wasn’t surprised to see Jordan go to the lead, because that horse has a lot of speed.”

When the field hit the top of the stretch, Sugar Man was out of the pocket and going after the leader with Go Go Grasshopper right behind him.

“It ended up working out really well,” said Bongiorno. “Brett slid off on the last turn. The horse on the front was done and I got to stay on [Brett’s] helmet. My horse has a big burst of speed and he’s been looking for a trip for a while.”

It would be Go Go Grasshopper prevailing after securing the top nearing the finish. He won it by a half-length over Sugar Man with Lyons Steel third. The time for the mile was 1:50.1.

GO GO GRASSHOPPER REPLAY

“We’re looking forward to seeing what’s ahead for him,” said Bongiorno. “We’ll stake him to the Graduate and then kind of just see how things are going.”

As the 2-1 second choice, Go Go Grasshopper returned $6.20 to win. He now has six victories from 15 career starts, good for earnings of $223,580 for owners Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing and JB Racing.

A LITTLE MORE: Brett Beckwith was the man with the hot hands once again, leading the driver colony with three wins. He also topped the drivers on Thursday and Friday to finish the three-day race week with 11 victories, the most of any driver at The Big M for one race week. Mark Herschberger was the first to win 10 times over a race week, but there were only two cards contested after Thanksgiving Day. … Bongiorno’s two winners paced the trainers. … All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $2,710,924. … Racing resumes Thursday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands