East Rutherford, NJ — On the day before one of the biggest days in harness racing, the MADC had one race on the Friday (Aug. 4) card at The Meadowlands along with the Hambletonian Amateur Drivers event.

In the first race on the card, the MADC drivers and their pacers took to the mile surface and the top two who set the pace were the top two finishers in reverse order.

Tony Beltrami, who subbed in for Juan Cano, sat patiently with Bank Sea until the three-quarter pole and then pounced on the leader Ferdinand A (James Slendorn). Beltrami ended up winning by just over four lengths over Slendorn while longshot Stolen Art (William Clark Jr.) rounded out the trifecta. The mile went in a fast 1:52. The 10-year-old winner is owned and trained by Cano.

In the eighth race, the Hambletonian Amateur Drivers took to the trot.

In this event there were horses that came from the back of the pack for the top two spots. When the gate sprung it was a few leavers and a couple of horses that hung on the limb the entire mile. All Rise (Beltrami) wasn’t letting anyone go and took his horse all the way on the lead until mid-stretch. That’s when the closers came knocking and in the end, it was Bar Coins (Nicole Dicostanzo) who came from last to win by just over a length over the race favorite Cal Miles N Shell (John Calabrese). Hp Running Mass (Cote Keim) finished third. The trotting mile was timed in 1:56.1. This winner is a 4-year-old gelding owned by Ginnis Stables and is trained by Dicostanzo.

The MADC will be on hiatus as the meet ends, but should be back in action sometime in September.