East Rutherford, NJ — With the fall upon us and the MADC series back at the Big M, four races were featured on the Friday night (Nov. 8) card, with blustery winds affecting the stretch runs later on in the card.
In the first race on the card, it was a well-timed move by James Slendorn aboard Hurrikane Ironhead, who forged to the lead in the stretch and held on for the victory by just under a length. A fast-closing Coach Wendl (John Calabrese) finished second, ahead of Better Than Some (Yogi Sheridan). This pacing mile went in 1:54.1. Slendorn also owns this 4-year-old gelding that Chris Height trains.
In the sixth race, it was another horse who won from off the pace with a timely move at the three-quarter pole to gain command in the stretch. Geovany Hernandez wasn’t looking back down the lane as he guided his 9-year-old gelding Captain Terminator to a 1-1/4-length victory over Whammer Jammer and Slendorn, who was looking for a driving double in the first two MADC events on the night. Baron Chancey (Sheridan) rounded out the trifecta. This mile was timed in 1:54.3. Hernandez owns and trains the winner as well.
The ninth race had an entirely different pace scenario as Caliber (Tony Beltrami) gunned for the lead and never looked back en route to a three-length victory. Warrawee Yankee (Mark Silva) sat the pocket and couldn’t muster up a late rally, but held onto second over Good Rockin (Cameron Capone). This mile tripped the beam in 1:52.2. The 7-year-old gelding is owned by Terrence Smith out of Texas and is trained by Williams Hernandez.
The 14th and final race on the card featured a speed duel for the first half mile that left both combatants not a threat to the winner in the end. That was because the favorite, Flying Tiger (Michael Shults), made a three-wide brush to the lead just after the three-quarter marker and opened up in the stretch. He was able to gear down in the stretch but still won by over seven lengths in 1:55.4. The last quarter of the night was into a strong head wind that made it tough for horses to close into the leader. Long shot Gotta Minute N (William Clark Jr.) garnered the place spot while a game Firstup (Anthony Verruso), who was first-up and parked the entire mile, still rounded out the trifecta. Shults also trains this 5-year-old gelding that is owned by Blazer One Racing out of New Jersey.
The MADC series will be back on Saturday night (Nov. 9) for two races carded, one being a pace and the other a trotting event. Post time is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.