East Rutherford, NJ – With a Taylor Swift concert across the parking lot at Met Life Stadium, the MADC took “center stage” four times Friday night (May 26) of Memorial Day weekend under the Big M lights.

Shortys Girl and Jake Stillwell prevailed in a three-way photo to win the first of four MADC races at The Meadowlands Friday night. Lisa Photo.

The first race featured eight pacers going to post and after a “Swift” 27-second first quarter stanza, Bruce’s Magic (James Slendorn) took command and held that lead as the field entered the stretch.

It was a two-horse attack on leader Bruce’s Magic by Shortys Girl and Toonie Teen.  Those three horses dueled down to the finish that ended up being a photo, which had all three horses within a neck of each other.  In the end, it was Shortys Girl (Jake Stillwell) that prevailed over longshot Toonie Teen (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan) while Slendorn and Bruce’s Magic ended up third.  The mile went in 1:53.2.  The 4-year old mare is owned by Robert Weinstein of NY and is trained by Leah Posner.

The sixth race found only two horses leave for the lead and Final Justice (Tony Beltrami) took the lead just after the quarter pole and was able to hold on to a half-length victory over Meet The Creeper (Bruno Chiodo) while Spirit of Truth (Slendorn) rounded out the trifecta. The mile was timed in 1:55.4. The 11-year old gelding is owned by Joseph Loprete from NJ and is trained by Julius Czermann Jr.

In the 10th race on the card, several horses vied for the top spot but would not be heard from late.  That’s because the outer flow was out and moving early and horses from mid-pack ended up making the top three.  It was a sweeping move by Party Boy (Michael Kimelman) that earned him the victory over Big Bad Bill (Anthony Verruso) while Yayas Hot Spot N (Sheridan) finished third.  This mile went in 1:53.3. The 9-year old gelding is owned by Sara and driver-trainer Michael Kimelman from NY.

The 13th and final race on the card found some early leavers make it to the top but again it was a horse from mid-pack that got top billing in the card finale.  Bloodhound (Mark Silva) was on the hunt and was able to sniff the winner’s circle, winning by 2-1/2 lengths for Silva in his return to the MADC races.  Yer So Bad (Verruso) ended up second while the early longshot leader, Ferdinand A (Slendorn) hung in for third. The mile went in 1:53.1. The 4-year-old gelding is also owned and trained by Silva who is from NJ.

The MADC pacers will return to the big M next Friday night (June 2)with the first post scheduled for 6:20 p.m.