from the Meadowlands publicity department

East Rutherford, NJ — Lucky Jim held off Enough Talk to win a showdown thriller in the $50,000 opening round of the Su Mac Lad Series on Friday night (April 2) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

Lucky Jim held off Enough Talk by a head in 1:52.1 in the Su Mac Lad opener on Friday.

With Andy Miller in tow, Lucky Jim marched to the lead around the first turn, leaving Enough Talk parked out and racing into second as they hit the opening quarter in :28.1. Lucky Jim released the pocket to Enough Talk, but quickly reclaimed the lead before the half in :56 and maintained a 1-1/2 length advantage as they rounded the final turn.

Enough Talk angled out of the pocket at the head of the lane and the two Dan Patch Older Trotters of the Year slugged it out to the wire, with Lucky Jim holding on by a head in 1:52.1.

Lucky Jim, the 2009 divisional champion, won his 16th consecutive race at the Meadowlands for Andy’s wife, trainer Julie Miller, and owners David and John Prushnok and William Gregg.

Last year, Lucky Jim won 17 of 18 races, topped by a 1:50.1 world record in the Nat Ray. The 5-year-old son of SJ’s Photo-Hawaiian Sierra has now visited the winner’s circle in 20 of 40 career starts for earnings of $1.2 million.

The first stakes race of the season for free-for-all trotters, the Su Mac Lad culminates in an estimated $123,000 final on Friday, April 16.