Lifetime marks in all four Big M stakes Saturday

The Meadowlands played host to four major stakes races Saturday (June 24) with three divisions of the Graduate Series for four-year-old harness racing pacers and trotters and a leg of the Miss Versatility Series for older trotting mares. It was a night for speed as all four stakes races saw lifetime marks taken or tied.

A real battle took place in the first of two $50,000 divisions of the Graduate Pacing Series 3^rd leg for four-year-old pacers as Mad Max Hanover (Always B Miki) showed he can dig in late when needed.

The 8^th race co-feature saw Pleaseletmeknow (Joe Bongiorno) shoot out to the early lead over Coldcreekqueso (Brian Sears) to a quick opening quarter in :26. Then right after the quarter, Tim Tetrick came first-over with Mad Max Hanover with race favorite Stonebridge Helios (Dexter Dunn) following second-over.

Mad Max Hanover was able to clear to the lead by the half mile in :54, leaving Stonebridge Helios first-over and unable to clear by Mad Max Hanover. Those two then went head and head by the three-quarters in 1:21.2. Then down the stretch it looked as if Stonebridge Helios was wearing down Mad Max Hanover and had taken the lead when suddenly Tetrick’s urging stirred his horse up and Mad Max Hanover dug in and came back not only to win, but with a :26 last quarter, won by three-quarters of a length in 1:47.4. Stonebridge Helios was second in a photo over Taurasi (Andy McCarthy).

MAD MAX HANOVER REPLAY

It was the second straight win and third victory in five starts this year for Mad Max Hanover. The time of 1:47.4 tied his lifetime mark. He is trained by Jake Leamon for owner Marvin Rounick and paid $7.80 to win.

In the 9^th race second $50,000 Graduate division for older pacer it was pocket-rocket I Did It Myway (Captaintreacherous) and driver Andy McCarthy taking down race favorite Dreamfair Arnie B (Todd McCarthy).

I Did It Myway was first on the lead going into the first turn and then came Dreamfair Arnie B to take command with an opening quarter in :27. They raced single file past the half mile in a quick :53.4 with still no real movement from the field. As they neared the three-quarters, Andy McCarthy came out with I Did It Myway to challenge Dreamfair Arnie B and brother Todd McCarthy. The three-quarters was 1:20.4.

Down the stretch they came, and I Did It Myway proved to be the strongest as he went on to win by a half a length over Dreamfair Arnie B in 1:47.3 with Night Hawk (Joe Bongiorno) third.

I DID IT MYWAY REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark for I Did It Myway, who notched his fourth win in eight starts this year. The four-year-old stallion is trained by Tony Alagna for owners Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrozzo & D Latore and Alagna & Fodera Racing. He paid $5.60 to win.

Keg Stand (Bar Hopping) and driver Yannick Gingras were able to grind it out against co-favorite Looks Like Moni (Scott Zeron) in posting a neck triumph to win the $75,000 Graduate Series 3^rd leg for four-year-old trotters.

The 6^th race saw Looks Like Moni leave from post five and take the early lead over Iwon’t Backdown As (Tim Tetrick) with Keg Stand getting away in third place. As they raced single file, Looks Like Moni cut fractions of :27, :55.2 and 1:23.4 before the action heated up.

Around the final turn, Gingras came first-over with Keg Stand and collared the pacesetter in mid-stretch. The two horses then raced as a tandem until a few yards from the finish when Keg Stand surged forward to win by a neck in 1:50.4. Iwon’t Backdown As was third.

KEG STAND REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark for Keg Stand as the four-year-old stallion posted his fifth win in seven starts this year for trainer Nancy Takter. He is owned by Black Horse Racing, Christina Takter and John Fielding and paid $6.60 to win.

M-M’s Dream (Swan For All) scored a lifetime mark in capturing the $40,000 Miss Versatility Series 3^rd leg for older trotting mares. The 4^th race saw M-M’s Dream and driver David Miller take the early lead and then sit a pocket seat as Fashion Schooner (Tim Tetrick) came charging up first-over at the quarter in :27.3.

They raced single file past the half mile marker in :55.4 and to the three-quarters in 1:23.3 before Miller vacated the pocket with M-M’s Dream and started to come after Fashion Schooner. They not only collared them in mid-stretch but pulled away from the entire field to win by six and one-quarter open lengths in 1:51. Eternal Lee (Andy McCarthy) was second with Dreamonhigh (Yannick Gingras) third.

M-M’S DREAM REPLAY

It was the third win in five starts this year for M-M’s Dream. The four-year-old mare is trained by Ron Burke for the Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino and the Hillside Stables. She paid $7.80 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink