by Matt Zuccarello, GSY Series reporter

East Rutherford, NJ — As another Friday night (March 30) card began with nine trotters going to post in the GSY Amateur Series, another speed duel ensued for the second consecutive week.

Two of the betting favorites in the race, Gold Medal Swan(Michael Marx Jr.) and Fiji (David Offenberg) went for the lead from their outside posts and it was not until just after the half-mile stanza that Offenberg cleared to the lead.

Well, this took its toll on the top two after setting scorching fractions of :27.4 and :55.4 and with the long stretch looming, neither finished in the money; fading to fifth and seventh.

This set the race up for the closers, who started near the back of the pack but came on to make the entire trifecta. As a matter of fact, the first four finishers at the end of the mile were the four horses who got away at the start in the last four positions.

Post time favorite Wild Smile, with John Calabrese in the sulky, ended up making a move pretty early in the race, but kept the outer flow momentum en route to a one-length victory.

He paid $8.40 to win even though he was the favorite.

Getting up for second from near the back of the pack was the late running Fox Valley Steffen with Jennifer Lappe in the bike. She outkicked one of her lady counterparts, Mr. Lover, with Jenny Melander holding the lines, who ended up third.

The mile was timed in 1:55.4

It was Calabrese’s first win of the season at the Big M and he owns and trains this 8-year-old gelding by Crazed.

Next week, the fifth leg of the GSY Series continues on Friday night at the Big M with the first post slated for 7:15 p.m.