from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — For the past two weeks, Inittowinafortune has chased Radar Contact from the pocket and each time she came up short. That changed Friday night (April 24) at The Meadowlands as the 5-year-old mare earned a hard-fought victory by a flared nostril in the featured $27,500 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap.

Inittowinafortune was released as the 4-1 third choice behind Radar Contact (3-5) and Rocklamation (2-1).

Lisa photo

Inittowinafortune (#5) earned a well-deserved victory over Radar Contact.

Radar Contact was sent immediately to the lead from her assigned outside post and she would remain on the point through strong fractions of :26.2, :54 and 1:22.1 before turning for home with Inittowinafortune right on her tail.

As the mares straightened away, Corey Callahan guided Inittowinafortune to the outside and mounted their bid for the lead. Callahan’s mare put a head in front in mid-stretch, but Radar Contact dug back in and the two talented mares paced all the way to the wire together. Only a nose separated the pair, with Inittowinafortune earning a well-deserved victory over Radar Contact. Rocklamation was three lengths back in third in the 1:50.2 mile.

Inittowinafortune is trained by Michael Russo for owner Michael Pagonas.

Whom Shall I Fear was the easiest of winners again Friday night at The Meadowlands, as he coasted to a dominant wire-to-wire performance in his division of the Spring Preview for the 3-year-old trotters.

It appeared as though the $475,000 yearling never took a deep breath as he coasted to a 1:54.4 triumph. The brother of Father Patrick controlled the tempo through fractions of :28.4, :58 and 1:26.2 while never facing a challenge. Whom Shall I Fear is trained by Jimmy Takter for the Whom Shall I Fear Stable.

For the second consecutive week, social media went abuzz as Whom Shall I Fear crossed the finish line Friday night. Many were asking the question if this is the 3-year-old colt to watch leading up to the Hambletonian and if this is the horse that can push Mission Brief.

The most interesting aspect of that question is that Yannick Gingras drives both horses.

Muscle Network, the 2013 Valley Victory winner, made his 4-year-old debut a winning one by taking a conditioned trotting event in 1:54.3. The Tony O’Sullivan trainee was last early in the mile and was allowed to find his stride through fractions of :28 and :56.4 before being guided to the outside by David Miller.

Muscle Network found a live outer flow where he positioned himself third over and followed live cover past three-quarters in 1:25 where he set up his late rally as the field turned for home. From there, the classy 4-year-old closed in on Quick Deal and reeled him in just before the wire to earn the comeback victory.

Muscle Network is staked well, including the TVG Trotting Championship and the upcoming Graduate series which begins one month from now at Tioga Downs. He is owned by Frank Bellino & Sons LLC.

Stacia Hanover also returned a winner in a conditioned event for filly and mare pacers. The 2014 New Jersey Sire Stakes champion was relegated to last early in the mile through rather tepid fractions of :28.2 and :57.1. Shortly past the half-mile pole, Stacia Hanover was guided outside and tracked live cover from a third over position where she would remain past three-quarters in 1:26.1.

From there, Scott Zeron would show his filly racetrack and she responded, rallying home well to score in 1:55 over an equally fast-closing Strut My Stuff. American Truth saw her three race win streak come to an end, cutting the mile and finishing third.

Stacia Hanover is trained by Steve Elliot for David Van Dusen and Michael Cimaglio.

In amateur racing news, Hannah Miller continues to ride her amazing hot streak. Miller won the first race on the evening, the French-American Friendship Amateur event with Jacks To Open. Her record this season now stands at six wins from 21 starts with 12 of those 21 races resulting in an in-the-money finish. For her career, Miller has won 15 of 41 starts.

The sixth and final qualifying leg before the final of the GSY Amateur Trotting Series was won by a first timer to this series, Alan Charles, in wire-to-wire fashion.

Charles started from post position six and got to the lead in :28.3 to the first quarter and never looked back. He ended up winning by two-plus lengths and the race was timed in 1:56.2 on this cold and windy late April night. All About Justice, who was parked for most of the mile, was a game second with Jenny Melander in the bike. Magglio and Stephen Oldford in the sulky ended up third.

The series will have its final on Friday (May 8). The top 10 drivers will be racing for a purse of $12,000. They are Hannah Miller, Robert Hechkoff, Robert Krivelin, Peter Kleinhans, Paul Minore, David Ehrenberg III, Matt Zuccarello, David Glasser, David Yarock and Anthony Ciuffetelli.

Both Jackpot Super Hi-5 wagers saw their carryovers continue. The fifth race carryover has grown to $91,918, while the last race carryover now stands at $62,450.

Total handle for the 13-race program of $2,649,116 was an eight percent increase over the same Friday one year ago.

Racing resumes on Saturday, featuring the second round of the Whata Baron series, with first post time at 7:15 p.m.

— Matt Zuccarello contributed to this report