East Rutherford, NJ — Speed was the name of the game in Friday’s (May 19) trio of Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club events at the Big M as all three winners either led or were in the top three at the first call.

The first race was scratched down to a field of eight, in which Rockabilly Charm (Jim Slendorn) left from his outside post and took command entering the first turn. He carved out some sensible fractions came home in :27 to win by just over two lengths in 1:53.3. Doc Semalu (Anthony Verruso) rode the pylons to finish second while long shot Stolen Art (Will Clark Jr.) rounded out the trifecta. The 8-year old gelding is owned and trained by Victoria D’Alessandro.

In the second division, also scratched down to eight horses, two horses left hard for early supremacy. Jonah (Verruso) left hard from the outside and got to the lead in a fast 26.4. As in the first event, once he got there, he had no real challengers for the entire mile and ended up winning in hand by three lengths in 1:52.4 as the post time favorite. Pocket sitter Takeittotheface (Peter Kleinhans) finished second and Thndrfrmthethron N (Neil Glasser) ended up third. The mile was paced in 1:52.4. The 7-year old gelding is owned by Paradis Racing Stable LLC and trained by Mike Terpolilli.

The third and final MADC race had nine pacers go to post, and three horses left hard from their outside positions for the lead. Guys In The Band (Glasser) who gunned his horse to the lead through a wicked :26.3 first quarter, seating Yer So Bad (Verruso) in second and Its Showtime (Juan Cano) in third. These three paced all the way around the track into the stretch, where both Cano and Verruso battled down the long stretch and were a nose from finishing in a dead heat, with Cano getting Its Showtime up in the final stride to win in 1:52.4. Guys In The Band ended up third. The 6 year-old Its Showtime is co-owned by Ultra Championship Racing LLC and Sean Loebs and is trained by his driver.

The MADC will be back next Friday night (May 26) with the first race scheduled to go to post at 6:20 p.m.