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The Meadowlands played host to all four harness racing divisions of the third leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-olds Saturday night (June 25) and the six Graduate dashes saw favorites win and some major upset miles.
The upset of the evening happened in the 6th race $40,000 Graduate division for four-year-old pacing mare when unbeaten Mikala (Always B Miki) held off Harness Horse of the Year in 2021, Test Of Faith, to win by a head.
Oakwoodanabella IR and driver Todd McCarthy left quicky to take command with Mikala and driver George Brennan) as they passed the first quarter in :27.2 with Test Of Faith (David Miller) sitting in third place.
Off the quarter time, Brennan came right out with Mikala to take control of the lead and take the field past the half mile in :55.3. Down the backstretch Grace Hill (Andy McCarthy) started up first-over but could not gain on the leads at the three-quarters in 1:23.3.
Coming down the stretch, Oakwoodannabella IR came after Mikala and then it was Test Of Faith closing with a burst of speed, but Mikala had a :25 second last quarter mile to hold off Test Of Faith and win by a head in 1:48.3. Oakwoodannabella IR was third.
MIKALA REPLAY
It was the fourth straight win in four starts for Mikala and the fast time was a lifetime mark. She is trained by NK Drennan and is co-owned by Joseph Devino, Brad Shackman, Anthony Perretto Farm and the Drennan Stable. She paid $12.80 to win.
The fastest mile in all of harness racing this year took place in the 11th race $50,000 second division of the Graduate for the older pacers.
It started off with Linedrive Hanover (James MacDonald) grinding it out to get the early lead from Rockyroad Hanover (Todd McCarthy) to the first quarter in :27. Then it was Dexter Dunn’s turn with Bulldog Hanover (Shadow Play), the race favorite, and they shot to the lead and then held the field at bay through a :55 half.
Then it was American Courage and driver Matt Kakaley leading a first-over charge to the three-quarters in 1:22.1 with Lou’s Pearlman (Yannick Gingras) following second-over. American Courage was able to look Bulldog Hanover in the eye as they started down the stretch.
And with that, Bulldog Hanover found another gear and pulled away in the stretch to win in a lifetime best 1:47 clocking. Linedrive Hanover was second with Rockyroad Hanover third.
BULLDOG HANOVER REPLAY
It was the third straight win and fourth victory of the season for Bulldog Hanover. He is trained by Noel Daley for the Seelster Farms, Inc. of Lucan, ON and paid $2.80 to win.
In the 9th race $50,000 first Graduate division for the pacing horses saw quite the early slugfest leading to two horses pulling away from the pack and duking it out to the finish.
Carbine (Todd McCarthy) was the even money favorite, had the rail and shot right out for the lead. But he was not the only one who wanted the front.
Right away Charlie May (McArdle, David Miller) was on the outside but then it was Bettors Donttell and driver Yannick Gingras who looped them all in a tough :26.1 opening quarter mile.
But the action was not over yet as Charlie May then surged to the lead and even faster on the outside was Whichwaytothebeach and driver George Brennan as they clear at the half mile in :53.3. Whichwaytothebeach opened daylight on everyone but Charlie May as they passed the three-quarters in 1:20.3.
Then in a great stretch duel, Charlie May was able to wear down Whichwaytothebeach right before the wire to win by a long neck in 1:47.1, tying a track record. Bettors Donttell was third.
CHARLIE MAY REPLAY
It was the second win this year and a lifetime mark for Charlie May, who is trained by Steve Carter for owner-breeder Don Tiger of Cononsburg, PA and paid $7.40 to win.
Charlie May is now tied with Captain Barbossa (2021) and Allywag Hanover (2021) as the fastest four-year-old geldings ever at The Meadowlands.
In the 7th race, the second $50,000 division for trotting horses, it was the race favorite, Ahundreddollarbill (Chapter Seven) and driver Todd McCarthy who got just enough live cover to out sprint Ambassador Hanover to the wire.
Take All Commers (Tim Tetrick) was the first on the lead with Ambassador Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) in the pocket seat. Also on the move was Logan Park and driver David Miller and by the opening quarter in a speedy :26.1, they took over the lead.
But the action was not done yet as Inaminute Hanover and driver James MacDonald came first-over and they lead at the half mile marker in :56.1. Then down the backstretch Take All Comers came back first-over with Ahundreddollarbill grabbing the second-over cover at the three-quarters in 1:24.
Then in a torrid stretch drive, Ahundreddollarbill put away Inaminute Hanover and then held off the late charge by Ambassador Hanover to win by a long neck in 1:51.1. Take All Comers was third.
AHUNDREDDOLLARBILL REPLAY
It was the second straight win in three starts this year for Ahundreddollarbill. He is trained by Tony Alagna for Crawford Farms Racing and James Crawford, IV. He paid $3.40 to win.
The 4th race was the first $50,000 Graduate Series for four-year-old trotting horses and saw Rattle My Cage (Love You) with driver Yannick Gingras nip pacesetter Cuatro De Julio at the wire.
It was Cuarto De Julio and driver Andy McCarthy going after the early lead only to be stretched out to the opening quarter in :26.3 by Rattle My Cage and Gingras.
There was no movement past the half mile in :55.3 and as the field headed to the three-quarters, only Storm Is Raging (Tim Tetrick) tried coming first-over to no avail.
As they came down the stretch, Gingras came after Cuatro De Julio with Rattle My Cage and they were able to catch them at the wire to win by a neck in 1:50.3 with a :26.4 last quarter mile. Venerate (Andy Miller) was third.
RATTLE MY CAGE REPLAY
It was the third straight win for Rattle My Cage who is trained by Ake Svanstedt for owner Perry Soderberg of Wellington, FL. He paid $4.40 to win.
The 2nd race was the $40,000 Graduate Series for four-year-old trotting mares and it was Bella Bellini (Bar Hopping) and driver Dexter Dunn showed off her intense closing speed.
11-1 HP Mama B (Tim Tetrick) shot right to the lead with Big City Pearl (Lewayne Miller) sitting the pocket trip with Bella Bellini last as they went by the first quarter in :27.2.
With no movement, HP Mama B led the field past the half mile in :56.3 and then in the backstretch Herculisa (David Miller) came first-over, giving outside cover to Cindy Michelle (Scott Zeron) to the three-quarters in 1:24.1. Dexter Dunn had Bella Bellini tipping three-wide from fifth place.
As they came down the stretch, Herculisa had collared HP Mama B but with her great closing speed, Dunn rallied the 1/5 favorite Bella Bellini, who came on late to win by one length in 1:51, last quarter mile in :26.4.
BELLA BELLINI REPLAY
It was the second win in six starts for Bella Bellini. She is trained by Nifty Norman for owner-breeder David Mc Duffee of Delray Beach, FL. She paid $2.60 to win.
A LITTLE MORE:Ā Dunn led the drivers with three winners on the card. ā¦ Travis Alexander had a training double. ā¦ A carryover of $4,971 led to a total pool of $42,461 in the Late 20-cent Pick-6. Those with all six correct collected $1,423.04. ā¦ The action on the 11thĀ was huge, as a total of $365,098 was pushed through the windows, $101,197 of that on the Late 50-cent Pick-4, but all-source betting for the night ended up just shy of $3 million, as a total of $2,962,043 was put in play. ā¦ Jessica Ottenās $50 win and place bet on Charlie May proved to be enough for the Big M TV personality to record her second win in the trackās Battle of the Masterminds handicapping contest. She finished the night with a mythical bankroll of $645.60. ā¦ Racing resumes Thursday at 6:20 p.m. kicking off the first three-program week of the year.
For complete race results, click here.
by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink, with files from Dave Little
