With the temperature at 80 degrees for the first race, it was ideal for racing over a fast Meadowlands surface on Friday (May 12) night. Three MADC races were carded, and the action, like the weather, was hot and contentious.
Year: 2023
Abby Rose takes feature at Tioga
Abby Rose and driver Ridge Warren captured the featured $10,500 pacing event for fillies and mares at Tioga Downs on Friday (May 12).
Switzer wins three, Ranger honored at Cumberland
While driver Kevin Switzer Jr. may have had the hot hands on the Friday (May 12) program at Cumberland Raceway with three wins, all eyes were on Bruce Ranger after the seventh race as over 40 of his fellow drivers, trainers, family, friends and local horsepeople surrounded the hometown hero in recognition of his recent 10,000-win milestone.
Unusual Clarity steals feature at Vernon
Unusual Clarity and trainer-driver Ron Harp slipped by pacesetting favorite Special Olivia late to capture the $6,500 distaff pacing feature at Vernon Downs on Friday (May 12).
Rick Finn, 64, dies
Richard D. (Rick) Finn, 64, of Crete Ill., died May 6, 2023, after a short but hard battle with cancer.
Fortunes changing for Alan at Buffalo
After a pair of excruciating losses in late April, a flip of the calendar to May has changed the fortunes of Alan. For the second straight week, Alan ($9.60) went gate-to-wire and blitzed the field in the $15,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway on Friday afternoon (May 12). He put away Megabank K by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:57.2.
South Beach Star shines in Philly feature
South Beach Star was parked most of a :53.3 first half en route to a 1:48.2 win at Pocono last week; on Friday (May 12) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, the Somebeachsomewhere gelding saved the :53.3 half for the back of the mile, holding off favorite Lou’s Pearlman by a halflength in 1:49.1 to take the $20,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Red Mile yearling and stallion nomination payments due May 15
Red Mile has announced that yearling and stallion nomination payments are due May 15 for the Kentucky Futurity, Tattersalls Pace, Bluegrass Series and International Stallion.
Delaware, Ohio, Grand Circuit yearling nomination reminder
Owners are reminded that the yearling nomination payments for the Delaware (OH) Grand Circuit events for foals of 2022 (to be raced in 2025) are due May 15.
Special Way has got ‘it’ for Svanstedt
Special Way gives Ake Svanstedt a special feeling. A returning Dan Patch Award winner, Special Way needed two starts last year before everything clicked, but once it did, she was unbeatable. She finished her campaign with seven consecutive victories, capped by a Canadian-record 1:52 mile in the Breeders Crown final for 2-year-old female trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park. For the season, the daughter of Walner-Special Hill earned just shy of $700,000, tops among freshman filly trotters. On Saturday, Special Way will make her seasonal debut in the second of two $30,000 first-round divisions of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-old female trotters at The Meadowlands.