East Rutherford, NJ – Over the course of the weekend at The Meadowlands, driver Colin Kelly could do no wrong, and one of his 10 winners during the two-day race week came in Saturday (Jan. 17) night’s featured $17,500 high-end conditioned pace.
Kelly became the first driver in 2026 to win 10 times over a two-card week, equaling what only Mark Herschberger accomplished during 2025.
The 32-year-old pilot’s biggest win of the night came in the eighth race, when Bettors Donttell took down 3-5 favorite American Dealer N in 1:50.4 after working out an ideal second-over trip.
“He seems to like having a target in front of him,” said Kelly after scoring in the feature with the 8-year-old gelded son of Bettor’s Delight-Donttellruss. “He’s really fast. He likes to chase and he can make a big run. American Dealer is a really nice horse. He’s so quick. We just got really lucky that Brett got backed up [along the inside].”
American Dealer N worked out a pocket trip behind South Beach Star, who led at the first three calls in :27.2, :55.4 and 1:23.4, respectively, and appeared to have enough time to take down the eventual winner but came up short after getting outpaced late by Master Charles A for second after finding room late between rivals.
A Mark Capone trainee, Bettors Donttell returned $15.40 to win as the 6-1 third choice in the betting. He’s now won 30 of 141 career outings, and banked $481,601 for owner Joshua M. Kinney.
Kelly, who won five races Friday night, ended up with a second consecutive five-score evening after also piloting Beat Cop ($8.40 to win in the second race), Caviart Camden ($31.60 in the sixth), Sun Of A Show ($23.60 in the ninth) and National Sport ($3.40 in the 13th) to walks down victory lane.
“I’m just very lucky,” said Kelly. “I’ve got some good horses for some good trainers. I’m in the right place at the right time. You are only as good as what’s in between the shafts, and I’m very fortunate that way.”
SAMPLE FIT FOR A KING: DeShawn Sample worked out a perfect pocket trip and guided American Mercury to victory in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Race, a dash that honored the slain civil rights leader.
“The horse seemed like he needed a trip, and it worked out,” said Sample. “At the top of the stretch I was very confident. The trainer [Michael Posner] told me just sit with him and move him out, and he’ll take off.”
Sample has now won this event two years in a row, but being a part of a race where all of the drivers were African-American honoring Dr. King was something special not only to him, but to the other seven pilots in the race as well.
“It means a lot to the black drivers to come up here, especially to drive at the Meadowlands, it’s the big time,” said Sample.
NO RACING SUNDAY: Due to an expected snow event, the Sunday race card at The Big M was canceled.
A LITTLE MORE: Bill MacKenzie led the trainers with a pair of victories. … There were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $4,272 for when racing resumes. Those with five correct collected $356.02. … All-source betting on the 14-race card totaled $2,625,852. … Racing resumes Friday (Jan. 23) at 6:20 p.m.