Meadowlands hosts four GSY amateur races Friday night

East Rutherford, NJ – Four amateur races helped fill out Friday night’s (Dec. 3) card at the Big M and those races were exciting and had a couple nice prices at the windows for the betting public.

Race three on the card was the first of four amateur pace races and a field of eight went to post.  As usual in these races, several horses left from their positions to try and garner the top spot heading to the quarter pole.

It was a short-lived lead for Outrageous Story (Michael Russo), who led at the quarter in :28.1 before relinquishing the lead to the even money, post-time favorite Watchmeneighneigh (Tony Beltrami).  After he popped the pocket at the top of the stretch, but hung on the outside, Beltrami was able to hold onto the lead and the victory by three-quarters of a length.  A hard closing Doctor Butch (Nicole Dicostanzo) finished second and Russo, rounded out the trifecta.  The race was timed in 1:56.2 and the winner paid $4.40.  The 6-year old gelding is owned by Maria Alvarez out of PA and is trained by Williams Hernandez.

The fourth race on the card featured the GSY 2 division of higher end pacers with eight going to post.  Tuxedo Bay (Mark Silva) took the field through robust :27.2 and :56.2 quarter and half- mile times, respectively. However, he was collared by even money, post-time favorite Macintosh N (Jonathan Ahle) at the three quarter pole (1:23.4), who went on to an easy three-length victory.  Ideal Flip(Robert Hechkoff) came from a long way back to finish second and longshot (44-1) My Ok Palacio Br (Rob Harmon) rounded out the trifecta.  This race went in a fast 1:52.2.  The 12-year-old gelding paid $4.40 to win and is owned by Shaun Vallee, and Emanuel and Patricia Balsamides all out of NJ, and is trained by Shaun Vallee.

The eighth race on the card featured nine pacers and as the gates folded and several horses left for early supremacy.  El’s Disco Johnny (Tony Beltrami) left from his outside post nine and put up fast opening quarter (:27.2) and half-mile fractions (:56.3), which proved to be a key factor for him not finishing on top.  He was able to fight off a hard challenge by Midnight Lightning (Jonathan Ahle) but couldn’t hold off the other closers and faded to third.

Rock N Blue (David Glasser) was able to get up in the final strides for a half-length victory over Gottalovemyshadow (Roy Marohn) who finished second.  This mile went in 1:54.3 and the winner returned $21.20 to his backers.  The first five finishers were within a length and half of each other at the wire.  The 7-year-old gelding is owned by Super Mile LLC and trainer Jody Riedel from NY and is trained by Riedel as well.

The 10th and final amateur pace race on the card had nine horses go to post and 28-1 longshot Feeling Cam Lucky (Benson Merrill) left from his outside ninth post and took command in a swift :27 first quarter mile.  He tried to ration out the speedster but could only slow him down to a :55.2 first half mile.  This looked to be a race to set up for the closers but the longest shot on the board was able to hold onto the victory by a length-and-a-half in a mile timed in 1:52.3.  The $59 win payout was the highest on the Friday night Meadowlands card. Cecil Casanova (Mark Silva) finished second and Denver Seelster (Roy Marohn) ended up third.  The 9-year-old gelding is owned by PT Stable out of NJ and is trained by Paul Fusco.

The amateurs will be back next Thursday (Dec. 9) and Friday (Dec. 10) at the Meadowlands with the first post scheduled for 6:20 p.m.

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