East Rutherford, NJ – The first of six Thursday race cards this year at The Meadowlands featured four divisions of the first leg of the Exit 16W Pop Up Series for both trotters and pacers, and Herecomesdajudge and Dismas were two good-looking winners.
Herecomesdajudge took the $20,000 split (race four) for trotters 4-years-old and younger in 1:54.4 for trainer Julie Miller and her son, driver Tyler Miller.
The 3-year-old son of Muscle Hill-Designed To Be sat an easy-chair comfortable two-hole trip behind Soft Landing, who took the field past the quarter in :27.3 and half in :58.2. Despite the sleepy :30.4 second fraction, Tyler moved ‘Dajudge’ off the rail heading to three-quarters, and grabbed the lead at that station in 1:27.2 on the way to an easy 3¾-length score. Walkwhileyourtalkn was second with Bless Me Father third.
The winner’s Kentucky back class showed as he notched his sixth win in 27 career tries while upping his bankroll to $141,752.
“He wasn’t feeling like himself [when he scratched on Oct. 28 at Cumberland Run],” said Tyler of the regular sire stakes competitor in the Bluegrass State. “We didn’t want to race when he wasn’t at his full potential. I was still pretty confident [tonight]. He felt great and loves that trip. He’s been racing well in Kentucky.”
Herecomesdajudge returned $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice in the eight-horse field.
Dismas, a 3-year-old gelded son of Lazarus N-Itz Cherry Ripe N who is trained by Per Engblom, won the second of two $17,500 divisions (race seven) for 2- and 3-year-old colts and geldings on the pace in 1:51.1 as the even-money public choice.
Driver Braxten Boyd opted to sit a pocket trip, and it worked to perfection, as after leader Doctor Arroganto cut out fractions of :26.3, :55.3 and 1:24.1, Dismas vacated the pocket with a little less than an eighth-of-a-mile to go, and under some energetic urging from Boyd, got up by a neck over Doctor Arroganto. Lastdrivedownmain, who, according to Boyd, suffered a flat tire, was third in the eight-horse field.
“It looks like the horse is very capable,” said Boyd, who teamed up with the winner for the first time.
“[Sitting in the] two-hole was perfect, that was a decent one to follow and Scottie [Zeron, driving Lastdrivedownmain] got a little bit of a flat tire there, so that helped. He put up a great performance tonight. Hopefully, I can get the drive back and have a little success with him.”
Dismas is now three for 14 lifetime, good for earnings of $27,650. He paid $4.20 to win.
A PAIR OF WINNERS: The other two Exit 16W winners were:
Race 3 – $17,500 2- and 3-year-old filly pace: Twin B Cardi B (a 3-year-old by Stay Hungry-Perfectly Sweet), driven by Anibal Borjas, trained by Tony Alagna, winning time 1:54.1 in her pari-mutuel debut, paying $4.80 to win as the 7-5 second choice.
Race 5 – $17,500 2- and 3-year-old colts and geldings pace: Captivated (a 3-year-old gelding by Tall Dark Stranger-Never Ever Forget), Boyd, Bill MacKenzie, lifetime-best 1:51.4, $10.80 as the 4-1 third choice.