East Rutherford, NJ- With just two MADC races to start out the 2024 year, both winners came from off the pace to reign victorious Friday evening (Jan. 5) at the Meadowlands.

In the first race, after the grind to the lead by Takemetothelmit Gb (Dein Spriggs), he set sensible fractions for the middle stanzas of the race but was hounded for a majority of that journey by a parked out Sweet Moves (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan). These two tussled into the stretch and helped the closers garner the top two spots.

It was a rail skimming ride by longshot Lovethewayyoulie (Bruno Chiodo) who opened up in the deep stretch to win by four lengths over another longshot, Aryiana Star (David Yarock), while Spriggs held on for third. The mile was paced in 1:55.4. The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Chiodo Racing LLC out of NJ and is trained by Stacy Chiodo.

The fourth race found a loose leader, Bank Sea (Juan Cano) on the front end and he set the tempo for the entire mile. When the field entered the stretch, he looked like he would be able to fight off all challengers but was collared late by pocket sitter and post time favorite, Dandy Idea (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan) and longshot, Sunshine’s Finest (William Clark Jr.). Cano was able to hold on to third with the mile being timed in 1:53.4.

Sheridan started off the 2024 campaign the way he left most races in 2023, in winning fashion. The 7-year-old mare is co-owned by Sheridan along with Mykashemydiamonmyariel, both out of NJ and is trained by Sheridan himself.

The MADC will be back next Friday night for more exciting harness racing action. Post time is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.