by Matt Zuccarello, GSY Series reporter

East Rutherford, NJ — Under a sloppy track with a negative-two variant, nine trotters went to post in the first and only amateur race on the card at Meadowlands on Friday (Feb. 16).

As the gate opened, only two trotters left for the lead and they stayed that way for most of the mile.

Last week’s winner, Here Comes Numbers, with Jennifer Lappe in the sulky, once again took command and carved out some fast fractions for the first three-quarters of a mile. She wasn’t able to hold of the closers but still did manage to hold on for the show dough.

Back from his mini break in Florida, post time favorite, Party on the River, driven by veteran reinsmen, Roy Marohn, sat the pocket until the top of the stretch. That is when he went to pounce on the race leader, but couldn’t slingshot to the lead and was only able to muster fourth.

As the race progressed and the rail opened up in the stretch, that is when Uriel, with Annie Stoebe in the bike, made her move but could only get up for a second place finish.

Moving up the cones from seventh at the three-quarter pole to fourth at the top of the stretch, the race winner, Tropical Storm Bi, with Anthony Ciuffetelli, took the shortest route around the track and ended up winning by two-lengths for this amateur event that was timed in 1:56.4.

He paid a generous $8 to win for every $2 win ticket.

Tropical Storm Bi, a 6-year-old gelding out of Yankee Glide, is owned by Ciuffetelli’s Tlc Racing Stable and he also does the training.

Next week, the GSY series continues on the Friday night card with the first post scheduled for 6:35 p.m.