Special Way “exceptional” in $240,000 NJSS victory

Superstar sophomore filly trotter Special Way (Walner) continued to make harness racing headlines at The Meadowlands on Friday night (Jun. 2) with an impressive two-length, lifetime-best score in the $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes.

Seemingly in a bad spot tracking a tepid pace while laying fifth for most of the mile, Special Way was activated by driver/trainer Ake Svandstedt and once she kicked into high gear in the lane, the outcome wasn’t in doubt as she easily trotted away from her rivals to notch a 1:51.4 win and take the new speed badge.

Marvin Katz, who shares ownership of the dynamic filly with long time partner Al Libfeld and Brittany Farms, couldn’t find enough superlatives to shower on Special Way in the winner’s circle.

“I’m overwhelmed, thrilled, have no words, speechless, all of the above,” Katz beamed. “She’s a very, very special filly, obviously. She is appropriately named, obviously.”

Katz said that Svanstedt indicated that his patient approach might have been a bit too cautionary as noted by the winning driver post-race.

“I have to share what Ake said out her on the track with me. He said, ‘she’s so good, she overcame my bad drive,'” Katz recounted with a chuckle. “She’s exceptional.”

Mombacita was sent right to the front by Yannick Gingras from post nine and that duo took the field through sensible fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.1 without being challenged. Just past the 3/4 pole, pocket sitter Walner Payton (Walner) popped out and poked a head in front, but Special Way was hot on her heels traveling in the second-over path.

Once the field straightened out there wasn’t much doubt that Special Way would vault to her 10th straight win. Improving Secret Volo (Walner) followed the winner home to get up for second and Walner Payton hung on for third to complete the all-Walner Trifecta. The popular winner paid $2.20 and ran her record to 10-1-0 from 12 starts. She has now earned more than $847,000.

SPECIAL WAY REPLAY

Rallying from what looked like an impossible spot at the top of the stretch, Air Power (Muscle Hill) announced himself as a serious Hambletonian contender in more sires stakes action. He won the colts and geldings division of the $240,000 final of the New Jersey Sires stakes for driver Andy McCarthy and trainer Marcus Melander.

Air Power, stuck inside in 6th at the 3/4 pole, was stickhandled to open racetrack in deep stretch by driver Andy McCarthy and he flew home in ;26.3 to win by a 1/2-length in a new life’s mark of 1:50.4 over favored stablemate Oh Well (Muscle Hill).

Oh Well moved from fifth to first after an opening quarter was trotted in :27.1 and he backed the pace down and took the field past the half in :55.4 with Air Power sitting eighth of nine at that point, nine lengths in arrears to his stablemate. As the field approached the 3/4 pole, McCarthy chose to stay in because the outer flow didn’t seem to be advancing.

“I was hoping for a bit of a flow and trip on the outside, but that didn’t look too good, so we had to take a shot the other way,” he explained of his decision to stay glued to the pylons. “It worked out, the seas parted, and I got out when I needed to. I actually had to slow him down a little bit. He’s a big green colt and I had to check him up there for a second. But yeah, he’s definitely a very good horse.”

AIR POWER REPLAY

Oh Well raced well and stuck for 2nd and trainer Melander has a powerful 1-2 stakes punch with this colt.

McCarthy said he sees more improvement coming from Air Power. “Absolutely, he was just back there dilly-dallying and they went 50. I think he’s got a little more.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink