by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — My Happiness E P emerged from a tough spot before exploding home in the stretch to take the featured $40,000 fifth leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares at the Meadowlands Friday night (Sept. 9), kicking off the track’s abbreviated two-week Sept. racing schedule.

Lisa Photo

My Happiness E P captures the fifth leg of the Miss Versatility for her second win of 2016.

The 8-year-old daughter of Credit Winner came back from more two months on the shelf to score in a conditioned event on Sept. 3 at Pocono Downs, which prepared her to take on a tough Big M field that included 2-1 second choice Jewels In Hock, who had raced well against division giant Hannelore Hanover in her three previous starts.

The post time favorite, 6-5 chance Charmed Life, reached the lead in :28 and was permitted to march on the front end through fractions of :56 and 1:23.2. Charmed Life was clear by 1-1/2 lengths at the head of the stretch, but My Happiness E P, who appeared to have no shot racing in fifth at three-quarters in a dull second-over flow, tipped off cover and sprinted home in :27 to get up by a head in a lifetime-best 1:51.3. Barn Doll got up for second with Charmed Life hanging on for third.

My Happiness E P, the 5-1 fourth choice in the wagering, paid $12.80 in winning for the second time this year in seven starts for driver Andrew McCarthy, trainer Ake Svanstedt and owners Pal Granlund and Thomas Grini.

HOT HAND ANDY: Andy Miller led the driver colony with four winners on the program, among them 2-year-old colt trotter Fly On (Muscle Hill-Calchips Finisher), who scored in 1:56 in the third leg of the Kindergarten Classic for freshmen colts and geldings.

Racing resumes at the Big M Saturday at 7:15 p.m.