East Rutherford, NJ – Taking advantage of a rated first half, American Power pulled off an upset Friday night (June 5) at The Meadowlands, defeating two big-time, headline-grabbing Hambletonian contenders in the featured $25,000 second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding Platinum-level trotters.
Mega Shark had the lead at the quarter in :28.1 before American Power surged past that one to take the field of 11 past the half in an underwhelming :57. Just before the half, Diabolic Hill, the even-money second choice who is No. 4 on Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Hambletonian Top 10, vacated the five-hole to go after the leader uncovered. Apex, the 4-5 favorite who is top-ranked, picked up that cover as American Power went by three-quarters in 1:25.4.
But a first-over trip wasn’t going to cut it for Diabolic Hill, and Apex, who gapped his cover around the far turn, saw his rally nearing the wire fall short. Apex finished second with Diabolic Hill a tired third as they both made their seasonal debuts.
It was no sweat for trainer Marcus Melander. His horses finished 1-2, and while Dexter Dunn handled Apex, American Power did just fine with Mattias Melander, Marcus’ brother.
“The New Jersey Sire Stakes final is next for this horse,” said Mattias of the Hambo eligible. “And then we’ll take it from there.”
A superbly bred colt by Walner-Ariana G, American Power completed the mile in a lifetime-best 1:52 to win by a safe neck. He has won all three of his starts this season and returned $30.80 to win as the 14-1 third choice in the wagering.
LADIES’ NIGHT: In addition to Debbie Little (the associate editor and columnist at Harness Racing Update) and Meadow Twaddle (Marketing Director of The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association) serving as host and co-host, respectively, of the live simulcast presentation, there were also a pair of $25,000 Platinum-level New Jersey Sire Stakes dashes for 3-year-old trotting filles on the card.
Naked And Famous (Six Pack-Sleep Tight My Luv) won the first division of the second leg in ultra-impressive fashion. The Noel Daley trainee surged past leader Days Away at the half before trotting her back half in :55.1 to stop the clock in a lifetime-best 1:51.1. Driven by Todd McCarthy, she broke in her last start when in tight heading to the half as the favorite in the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks final, one week after establishing a track-record of 1:51.2 in her elim. As the 3-5 favorite Friday, she returned $3.40 to win.
The second division went to the Jason McGinnis-trained, Anthony MacDonald-driven Jailbird Jog (Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S), who made the lead at the half in :56 before trotting a back-half in :55.4 to complete a 1:51.4 lifetime best. The Oak Grove Trotting Oaks winner scored for the third time this year in four tries and paid $5.40 as the 8-5 second choice.
DEBBIE’S MONSTER DOUBLE: Hall of Famer Little, who was filling in for her husband, Dave, made her presence felt in a big way. Debbie, who was a handicapper and writer for the New York Post for 27 years before getting her gig at HRU, showed no rust as a track tout, giving out seven winners on the card.
In addition, she absolutely crushed it late, as she used a 1-2 favorite (best bet Wishuponastar Deo) in the 14th race as a single to go along with a 50-1 bomb in the finale (Ms Frances Assisi, one of two horses she included) to make a gigantic score. Her “Little’s Late Double” called for an investment of $40, and those who played along cashed in for a segment-record $868, a profit of $828, after cashing their $20 base bets on the $86.80 payout.
A LITTLE MORE: Jason Bartlett led the driver colony with three winners. … All-source handle on the 15-race card totaled $2,579,871. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:35 p.m. (EDT).