East Rutherford, NJ — The third and fifth races on the Friday night (Feb. 26) card at The Meadowlands featured amateur pacers and drivers for the third leg of the GSY Winter Series.

In the first event, the customary cavalry charge into the first turn saw several horses vying for the lead, some going even three-wide, and when the dust settled a few remained on the outer tier for the entire mile over the fast surface.

After some moves to the quarter pole, Rockin Panda (Todd Whitney) was dueling with a parked out Watchmeneighneigh (Tony Beltrami) through :27.2 and :55.3 fractions to the quarter and half-mile pole. Sitting in the pocket was Rockinwiththebest (John Calabrese) and on the outside with cover was Motor City Marco (Matt Zuccarello).

As this quartet stormed down the backstretch and headed for home, the speed duelers up front looked like they had exhausted themselves. That is when Zuccarello tipped off of Beltrami’s cover in the open stretch, but stalled and the parked leader never stopped and was able to hold off all comers en route to a three-quarter length victory. Always A Force (Joe Lee) came from way back to get second and Calabrese finished third to round out the trifecta.

After the race Beltrami said, “I tried to get my horse to the lead, but once we couldn’t clear at the half, I settled him down and sat outside and saved him for the stretch. It wasn’t the way I planned the race out but was enough to still get the win.”

The mile went in 1:54.

This 6-year-old gelding is out of the mare Matter Of Life and is sired by Voracious Hanover. He is owned by Maria Alvarez and is trained by Williams Hernandez.

The fifth race on the card was scratched down to a compact field of seven and unlike the first race, there wasn’t a speed duel to the quarter, although one horse did try to leave and was parked for the mile.

After a quarter move, Dull Roar (Lee) found himself on the lead as So So De Vie (James Foley) relinquished command after a :27.2 quarter and :57.3 half-mile time. That is when Victorias Maverick (Beltrami) pulled out just after the half and sat outside the race leader until the top of the stretch.

He then kicked it into high gear and was able to hold off his stablemate So So De Vie to win by a neck. Preppy Art (Calabrese) rounded out the trifecta.

Beltrami stated after his second victory that, “It was my first time winning two races on a card ever. I didn’t want to get locked in so at the half I tipped my horse outside and was able to get up to the race leader, but didn’t try to clear until the top of the stretch. This strategy worked out to perfection.”

Indeed it did as “The Judge” was the jury and executioner as he completed his double of victories for both himself and trainer Hernandez. The mile went in 1:54, the same as the first amateur race.

This 5-year-old gelding is out of the mare Perfect Launch and is sired by Western Maverick. He is owned by Ronald Rettig-Zucchi.

The GSY Series will be set for its fourth leg next Friday night. The first post is scheduled for 6 p.m.