Big M holds eliminations for Final Four

The Meadowlands Racetrack was the scene Saturday (Nov. 19) for three of the Final Four Fall Series harness racing elimination races. Those making it to the finals next week will be racing for more than $400,000 each in the four finals. The Goldsmith Maid for two-year-old trotting fillies went right to a final next week.

The 5^th race featured the $20,000 elimination division for the Valley Victory Trot for two-year-old colts. Already receiving byes for the final were Kilmister and Volume Eight, so the first eight finishers in the elim will return for the final.

Kimmeridgian (Tim Tetrick) was first on the lead off the gate with Southwind Admiral (Todd McCarthy) on the move and taking command going to the first quarter in :28.

They raced single final to the half mile in :56.3. As they trotted down the backstretch, Up Your Deo (Ake Svanstedt) came first-over, giving outside cover to 2/5 race favorite Celebrity Bambino (Muscle Hill) and driver Yannick Gingras past the three-quarters in 1:25.4.

As they came down the stretch, Gingras started a charge with Celebrity Bambino, but Kimmeridgian and Tetrick were not finished yet and those two raced to the wire with Celebrity Bambino winning by a head in 1:53.4. Kimmeridgian held for second with Up Your Deo third.

Also making it to the final were Upstaged (Brian Sears) fourth, Te Amo Lindy (Andy McCarthy) fifth, Point Of Perfect (Dexter Dunn) sixth, Purple Lord (David Miller) seventh and Southwind Admiral eighth.

CELEBRITY BAMBINO REPLAY

It was the second straight win and fifth win on the year for Celebrity Bambino. He is trained by Ron Burke and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, J & T Silva Stable, Knox Services and Phil Collura. He paid $2.80 to win.

The 6^th race was the first $20,000 elimination division for the Governor’s Cup for two-year-old pacing colt and saw a great closing effort in the stretch.

Ammo (David Miller) was first on the lead with race favorite Combustion (Captaintreacherous) and driver Todd McCarthy sitting the pocket to the first quarter in :27.3.

Dexter Dunn then came first-over with Act Fast and they cleared quickly to the lead to the half mile in :55.3. By the three-quarters in 1:24, Combustion came back first-over with Muskateer Hanover (Yannick Gingras) second-over.

Coming down the stretch Ammo was also in the hunt going to the finish, but Combustion, under urging from Todd McCarthy was able to come on and score by half a length in 1:51.1 over Ammo with El Rey (Scott Zeron) a close third. Also making it to the final were Hungry Man (Andy McCarthy) fourth and Ants Marching (Josert Fonseca) fifth.

COMBUSTION REPLAY

It was the sixth win in just nine starts this year for Combustion. He is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Diamond Creek Racing, T R & S A Dillon and the Cooper Silva Stables. He paid $6.80 to win. Scratched from the race was early favorite Voukefalas.

It was upset time in the 7^th race second elimination division for the Governor’s Cup.

Cant Stop Lou (David Miller) went out early to cut the mile with Stormalong (Stay Hungry) sitting the pocket-trip for driver Jordan Stratton to the first quarter in :27.2.

They raced single file past the half mile in :56.1. Then before the three-quarters in 1:24.2, Dexter Dunn came first-over with the 3/5 race favorite, Handlelikeaporsche, and following second-over was Save America (Yannick Gingras).

As they came down the stretch, Handlelikeaporsche started to run out of steam as 14-1 Stormalong and Stratton came off the cover of Cant Stop Lou and beat him to the finish by a half a length in 1:51.2. Girldad (Todd McCarthy) was third. Also making it to the final were Save America fourth and Dupress Hanover (Andy McCarthy) fifth.

STORMALONG REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark for Stormalong and his second lifetime win. He is trained by Tony Alagna for owner Brad Grant of Milton, ON and paid $31.60 to win.

The 9th race was the $20,000 elimination for the Three Diamonds for two-year-old pacing fillies and another longshot was able to steal the limelight.

Zanatta (Stay Hungry) was first to leave from the gate for catch-driver Daniel Dube and they were pasted by the 6/5 race favorite Cultured (Scott Zeron) before the opening quarter mile in :27.2. Cultured then cut the mile to the half in :56.4 and then the three-quarters in 1:25.1 with no one making a move on the outside to challenge.

Then in the stretch, Dube was able to rally Zanatta at odds of 14-1 past Cultured and then coasted to the wire to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:52. Diamondsnpearls (Dexter Dunn) was second with Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras) third, Vivians Dream (Brian Sears) fourth and Hungry For Love (David Miller) fifth. Both Earthwindfire and Bellisima Hanover received byes to the final next week.

ZANATTA REPLAY

It was the second career win for Zanatta, who is trained by Jenn Bongiorno for the One Legend Stable of Jupiter, FL and paid $31.00 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink