Five stakes highlight Meadowlands Saturday card
February 20, 2015,from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department
East Rutherford, NJ — Saturday’s weather forecast is for warmer conditions and the racing action heats up in kind as three Winter Series finals and the opening leg of the William “Buddy” Gilmour late closer lead the 13-race card.
The $49,000 Charles Singer trotting final opens the stakes action in race two with Super Bowl series champ JL Cruze taking on six rivals for John Campbell. A model of consistency throughout the winter racing, JL Cruze has won four of six and $52,500 for trainer Eric Ell and owners Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar Jr. and Steve Iaquinta.
The $59,000 Sonsam final for 3- and 4-year-old pacing males (race six) pits the speedy Rockeyed Optimist against potential series sweeper Major Uptrend.
Rockeyed Optimist closed out his 1:50.3 leg two win with a searing :25.4 final panel last week, his first race with The Meadowlands’ hottest reinsman Brett Miller aboard. Steve Elliott trains the talented 4-year-old for Anthony Perretti, Ginny Berkner, A&B Stable and Joe Battaglia.
Major Uptrend has captured both leg starts in forwardly placed fashion for Meadowlands leading trainer/driver combo of Ron Burke and Yannick Gingras and owner Howard Taylor.
A very competitive field of six pacing mares will contest the $50,600 Burning Point final (race 11) with Empress Deo seeking the series sweep and finally earning the respect of the oddsmaker and horseplayer alike. After having returned a $30 mutuel in leg one, then $12 last week, she goes into the final as the morning line choice. Brett Miller drives for trainer Wayne Givens and owner Legacy Racing of Delaware.
The Buddy Gilmour series is restricted to sophomore pacing colts and geldings and offers a look at two of the more exciting prospects we’ve seen thus far in 2015. They drew apart for the opening $17,500 Gilmour divisions, heightening the anticipation of an eventual match-up down the road.
National Seelster was unraced at two, but has certainly caught the eye of racing fans this winter with an impressive pair of wins against overnight company. He starts from the rail in race five with Andy Miller at the lines for trainer Chris Ryder and owners Bob Mondillo and Oompa’s Farm.
The lightly raced Wiggle It Jiggleit came to The Meadowlands for a leg of the Sonsam two weeks ago with some pretty imposing lines on his card and left with the respect of his peers after a crushing first-over 1:49.4 win against older horses.
Owner George Teague Jr. skipped leg two of the Sonsam and bypasses the final of that series to race against his age group in this late closer. That is good news for those racing in the Sonsam final but not such good news for his rivals in the Gilmour. Montrell Teague drives and Clyde Francis trains the Mr Wiggles gelding.
On the wagering front, Saturday offers a qualifier for the World Harness Handicapping Championship along with the Jackpot Hi-5 carryovers and various guaranteed wagers available for horseplayers seeking value. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
Master Of Law goes for three straight in Meadowlands Friday feature
At his best, Master Of Law was good enough to beat an all-star field in the Centaur Trotting Classic last summer that included world champion Sebastian K. The problem was that he subsequently suffered through seven straight losses for Dan Patch Trainer of the Year Jimmy Takter.
Takter added trotting hobbles to Master Of Law’s equipment earlier this year and the gelded son of Deweycheatumnhowe responded with two straight wins. He is owned by the partnership of Lindy Racing, Brittany Farms, Adam Victor & Son and Christina Takter.
Master Of Law steps up in class to face seven other rivals in Friday’s $30,000 Open Handicap Trot at the Meadowlands. Master Of Law will be coupled in the wagering with Lindy’s Tru Grit. The entry has been installed as the 5-2 second choice behind favorite Melady’s Monet.
Friday’s 13-race card also features large carryovers in the Jackpot Super High Five wagers. After going un-hit again on Thursday night, the race five carryover stands at $26,227.69 and the last race carryover now sits at $129,346.68.
- Walk The Walk looks to talk the talk in Singer final (Thursday, February 19, 2015)
Last May, trainer Chris Ryder looked at his then 3-year-old trotter Walk The Walk and said he thought the horse might be better at age 4.
- Rockeyed Optimist seeks Sonsam Series crown (Friday, February 20, 2015)
He’s received his fair share of ink recently, due to capturing six of his last eight races dating back to Thanksgiving week. Although Rockeyed Optimist’s connections are certainly thrilled with the headlines, just watching him perform brings an indescribable thrill.
- Empress Deo has ‘turned out to be something super’ (Friday, February 20, 2015)
When Vicki Givens’ Legacy Racing of DE Inc. purchased Empress Deo for $12,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale’s Mixed Sale in Harrisburg in November, the horse had some moderate success but was still looking to prove herself. According to trainer Wayne Givens — Vicki’s husband — the 4-year-old pacer is on her way to doing that.