Harness Horse of the Year gets first 2022 win

Test Of Faith, the reigning Harness Horse of the Year, overcame racing during a torrid rainstorm and a determined Oakwoodannabella IR to capture her first harness racing win of the 2022 series in a $25,000 division of the Graduate Series at the Meadowlands Saturday.

Competing in the 11^th race second division of the Graduate it was Shezafreaklikeme (Stacy Chodo) out to the early lead with Oakwoodannabella IR (Dexter Dunn) pulling out from the pocket and going to the top in a slow :28 to the first quarter.

Then it was Grace Hill (Todd McCarthy) coming first-over and taking the lead and then it was Test Of Faith and driver David Miller moving first-over and they took over command by the half mile marker in :55.1.

Past the three-quarters in 1:24 the action heated up again as they started down the stretch with Oakwoodannabella IR and Dunn coming after Test Of Faith and Miller. Those two went head and head down the stretch but Test Of Faith was the strongest, kicking in a :25.4 last quarter mile to hold on to the lead and winning by a neck in 1:49.4 with Grace Hill third.

TEST OF FAITH REPLAY

For Test Of Faith it was her first win in two starts this year. The Art Major lass is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Melvin Segal and Kentuckiana Racing Stable. She paid $3.40 to win as the wagering favorite.

In the first of two $25,000 Graduate Series divisions for four-year-old pacing mares, Mikala, the 4/5 favorite, became the fastest pacing mare in North America this season.

The 9^th race co-feature began with Hot Mess Express (Andrew McCarthy) blasted off the starting gate from post 9 to take early command. Then Easy To Please (Jordan Stratton) came right after Hot Mess Express and took the lead at the quarter in :26.1.

Then it was Mikala and driver George Brennan coming after and taking the lead away from Easy To Please and led the field to the half mile in :54.3.

Coming to the final turn Always B Laughin (David Miller) started up first-over with Beach Crazy (Todd McCarthy) following second-over through the three-quarters in 1:23.1.

By the top of the stretch Mikala and Brennan had created separation from the field and went on to win with ease by two lengths in 1:49.1. Easy To Please was second with Darby Hanover (Dexter Dunn) third.

MIKALA REPLAY

Her time of 1:49.1 was a lifetime mark for Mikala and the fastest mile in North America this year for any pacing mare. An Always B Miki daughter, Mikala is trained by Nik Drennan and co-owned by Davino, Shackman, Perretti Farm and Drennan. She paid $3.80 to win.

It was still raining cats and dogs for the 11^th race second $25,000 division of the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacing mares.

Flying down the stretch with a :25.4 last quarter mile, Katie’s Lucky Day upset both Bella Bellini and Herculisa in winning her $40,000 first leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old trotting mares.

The 8^th race co-feature saw Herculisa and driver David Miller leave and take the early lead away from Katie’s Lucky Day (Tim Tetrick) at the opening quarter mile in :27.2.

Then it was the 2021 Dan Patch award winner and race favorite Bella Bellini getting into gear for driver Dexter Dunn and then took command of the race before the half mile in :55.4.

Down the backstretch no one came out to challenge Bella Bellini as she led the field past the three-quarters in 1:23.3.

As they started down the stretch Miller came after Bella Bellini with Herculisa, but it was Tetrick and Katie’s Lucky Day who stole the show, passing by both top mares to win going away by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:50. Bella Bellini was second with Herculisa third.

KATIE’S LUCKY DAY REPLAY

Not only was it the first win this year in four starts, it was a lifetime mark for Katie’s Lucky Day and the fastest trotting mile by any horse in North America in 2022 by one full second.

Sired by Uncle Peter, Katie’s Lucky Day is trained by Todd Luther for Black Magic Racing and Patrick Hoopes. She paid $9.00 to win.

In the 10^th race $40,000 Open Pace, the clouds opened up and it was pouring rain for the start of the race. The heavy rains had little effect on Ignatius A and driver Andy McCarthy as they wired the field in a lifetime mark.

Ignatius A cut fractions of :26.2, :54.3 and 1:22.3 with the field in single file and in post position order until American Dealer N and driver Todd McCarthy, Andy’s younger brother, came first-over to challenge.

Try as they might, American Dealer N could not catch Ignatius A, who won by a neck in 1:48.3. Jack’s Legend N (Dexter Dunn) was third.

It was the fourth win in just six starts this year for Ignatius A, an eight-year-old Australian bred gelding by Roll With Joe. He is owned and trained by Noel Daley and paid $6.00 to win.

IGNATIUS A REPLAY

A PERFECT 10: Betting on the 13-race card totaled $3,030,080, the 10^th time this year in 35 programs that wagering went past the $3-million mark at The Big M.

The Late 50-cent Pick-4 saw vigorous action, as $100,559 was pushed through the windows.

A LITTLE MORE: Andy McCarthy led the driver colony with three winners. Miller, Tetrick and Yannick Gingras all had a pair of victories. … With a sequence that began with winners that went off at odds of 11-1 and 18-1, the 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 returned a healthy $14,187 for those with just five correct on their tickets. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

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