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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Returning to the scene of his determined score three weeks ago in his seasonal harness racing debut, the Nancy Takter-trained Red Right Hand (Captaintreacherous-Preppy Party Girl) notched his second straight win at The Meadowlands Saturday night in a 2024 track-fastest-mile time of 1:49.1.
Red Right Hand tried his hand at Yonkers in the Borgata Series after his initial Big M win, but went off stride before the half on the way to a last-place finish 12 days ago.
Back at his favorite track, where he set his lifetime best of 1:48.1 during 2022, was just the thing to get Red Right Hand back in the winning swing.
Australian invader Big Skewy N was the first away from the gate from post six in the seven-horse field and led at the quarter in :27 making his North American debut as Red Right Hand set up shop in the pocket. Even-money favorite Combustion, seeking to stay perfect in two seasonal starts, raced in fourth, just behind Dragononthebeach.
The half was reached in :54.4 with no movement, but shortly after reaching the five-eighths, driver Yannick Gingras would wait no longer, deuce-popping with Red Right Hand before sprinting to the lead at three-quarters in 1:22.3, using what would turn out to be the winning move.
“I thought it was asking a lot of [Big Skewy N to win on the front],” said Gingras. “I think our horses might be a little more fit. That horse was running in a little on the first turn, and when I moved, it was time to pounce. I figured I could sit there [in the pocket] for a while and see what happens.”
Red Right Hand was on a clear lead at the head of the stretch, then shrugged off a challenge from Dragononthebeach, before holding on by a head as the late rush of Combustion (off live cover) came up a head short. Dragononthebeach held third.
“They were coming at the end, but my horse had a pretty big effort,” said Gingras.
RED RIGHT HAND REPLAY
A 6-year-old who is owned by Christina Takter, Nancy Takter and JAF Racing, Joe Sbrocco and R A W Equine Inc, Red Right Hand returned $8.40 to win as the third choice in the betting. He now has 19 wins in 77 career tries, good for earnings of just over $450,000.
‘KODY’ ROCKS THE CLOCK: Lexus Kody (Archangel-Lexus Helios), one week after going off stride in mid-stretch as the 3-2 favorite, rebounded in a big way for trainer Michael Burke, scoring in a dazzling 1:50 lifetime best, and in the process, established a new track record for older trotting geldings in an $18,000 high-end conditioned event.
The 6-year-old blasted to the lead from post nine in the nine-horse field and led at every call, clicking off fractions of :27.4, :55.2 and 1:22.4 before sprinting home in :27.1 to complete the job. Undeterred by what happened the week before, with regular driver Gingras calling the shots, the public bet Lexus Kody down to 7-5, and the favorite delivered a $4.80 payoff.
LEXUS KODY REPLAY
“I know this horse,” said Gingras. “When he runs in, he’s OK, but when he runs out, he makes breaks. The horse has crazy speed and crazy ability. He’s a crazy fast horse, but at times, he’s his own worst enemy.”
A LITTLE MORE: Yonkers regulars Jordan Stratton and Jason Bartlett led the driver colony with three wins apiece. Stratton scored twice with 7-1 shots, while one of Bartlett’s victories came with a 10-1 chance. … Both 50-cent Pick-4 pools exceeded $100,000, as a total of $213,600 was put in play on the Big M’s most popular multi-leg bet. … All-source handle totaled $3,520,145 on the 14-race card. For the weekend, the total wagered on the 28 races was $6,965,703, leaving total action just $35,000 short of a $7-million race week. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.
For complete race results, click here.
by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands
