East Rutherford, NJ — Diplomacy made his first start at the Meadowlands in 19 weeks a winning one Friday night (May 29), as the Per Engblom trainee came from well off the pace to record his second victory of 2026 in the featured $15,000 high-end conditioned trot.
It certainly didn’t look good for those who backed the 9-2 third choice, who came into the race off a last-place finish at Yonkers after an early break. Camera Man led at the quarter in a snappy :26.4 before 3-5 public choice Chapercraz took over and led at the half in :55.
Diplomacy was anything but menacing heading past the five-eighths, sitting gapped along the rail in fourth as Chapercraz hit the gas and led at three-quarters by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:23.
Celebrity Bambino, the 2023 Hambletonian favorite, was now in motion, as Diplomacy picked up some cover around the far turn to get into contention and go after the leader. Winning driver Todd McCarthy swung the 5-year-old gelded son of Muscle Hill-That’s All Moni to the center of the track for the stretch drive before taking off and surging past Chapercraz by a head at the wire in a lifetime-best 1:52.2.
Camera Man was placed third after Celebrity Bambino was disqualified for going off stride at the finish.
“I was pretty happy after the first half,” said McCarthy. “I just had to help him get around that last turn a little bit. Once he straightened up (in the stretch) he really wanted to go forward.”
Trained by track leader Per Engblom, Diplomacy lifted his lifetime numbers to 11 wins in 42 tries, good for earnings of $120,208. He returned $11.20 to win.
A LITTLE MORE: Mark Herschberger was the leading driver on the card, guiding four to the winner’s circle. … Rock On Line’s win at odds of 48-1 left several 20-cent Pick-5 players smiling. After a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 9-1, 1-1, 9-2, 3-2 and 48-1, those with winning tickets cashed in for $7,757.12. … All-source betting on the 14-race program totaled $2,359,383. … Racing resumes Saturday (May 30) at 6:35 p.m.