East Rutherford, NJ — Nine pacers went to post in the lone Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club (MADC) race carded Saturday night (March 16) at the Big M, and the race had action in every quarter. Unlike the oddity the night before, the betting favorite didn’t win and the winner paid a nice sum to win after winning last week as the favorite in an MADC 1 race.

Jo Pa’s Warrior (Dakota Jackson) was revved up on the lead through a swift :26.4 first panel, but he was quickly challenged and overtaken by Random Hanover (Joe Lee), who left from his outside post to take the lead before the half. The outer flow was out and going for most of this mile, and when the field turned for home, it was anybody’s race. That’s when Sunshine’s Finest (John Calabrese) kicked into gear and held off a late challenge from Homestretch Wes (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan) to win by a length in 1:52.2. Favorite Yer So Bad (Anthony Verruso) nosed out long shot Somiki (Matt Zuccarello) to get third.

Sunshine’s Finest, an 8-year old gelding, is co-owned by Mary Cuerbo and William Clark Jr., and is trained by Tom Shay.

The MADC will be back next Friday night (March 22). Post time is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.