East Rutherford, NJ – The amateur pacers were back on the card Friday night (Oct. 16) and 10 pacers went to post over the sloppy surface in the first race at The Meadowlands.

For a second straight week, three horses left hard from the gate and a speed duel ensued into the first turn.  Mark Schullstrom driving May I Cruise West from the rail, left hard and didn’t seem like he was going to let anyone go.  That made the first quarter over the wet surface go in a swift :27 seconds flat.

As the field entered the backstretch, speedster Captain Cut Throat, with Matt Zuccarello in the sulky, finally made it to the top but paid a stiff price in doing so.  After a half mile in a demanding :55.1, Zuccarello was challenged by Walks of Life, driven by Marianna Monaco.  She was never able to make it to the top but helped set up the closers to come calling.

As the field turned for home, Schullstrom popped the pocket and took the lead, but the first quarter took its toll on him as well, and he was only able to hold onto third.  Deep in the stretch, the old classy Good Day Mate, with James Foley holding the lines, took the lead en route to a length and a quarter victory.  The 10-year old by Christian Cullen-Stienam’s Place, is owned and trained by Michael Moran out of NJ.

Samuel King, driving Mcnulty Z Tam, came from way back to get second.

The GSY Series will be return next Friday night (Oct. 23) with the first post is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.