East Rutherford, NJ — GSY Amateur Series action heated up Friday night (April 22) at The Meadowlands with four amateur races highlighting the card.

The first race on the card featured 10 pacers and didn’t disappoint as all finishers were within four lengths of the winner. After a speed duel through a demanding half in :53.4, this set the race up for the closers. After an early first-over move before the half, Tuxedo Bay prevailed victorious, going a big mile in 1:52.4 to win by two open lengths for owner-trainer-driver Mark Silva. A four-horse photo for second went to the longest shot on the board, Fourboltmane (Tony Beltrami) over another long shot, Thndrfrmthethron N (David Glasser).

The fifth race featured 10 more pacers going to post. McKee Creek (Christopher Petrelli) set modest fractions up front, but could only maintain that lead until the top of the stretch. As he drifted off the rail, Haymitch and owner-trainer-driver Marianna Monaco sneaked up the cones to win by two lengths in 1:54.3. Bruce’s Magic (Yogi Sheridan) finished second and Takeittotheface (David Yarock) rounded out the trifecta.

The amateurs were back in action for the seventh race on the card, and after a swift :27.1 quarter, Michael Annunziata’s Waves Of Fire A (Yarock) made a big brush from sixth at the quarter to take the lead and never look back. He ended up winning by just over a length in 1:53. Long shot Elrama N (Terry DiCicco) finished second and Preppy Art (John Calabrese) finished third.

The final GSY amateur race on the card, carded as the ninth, featured a runaway leader, Needless To Say (Yarock). His first half of :54.2 ended up doing him in as he took the field into the stretch with the lead, but some horses from midpack came calling late. Captain’s Reign, owned, trained and driven by Dakota Jackson. wound up a head winner over Doc Semalu (Tony Verruso) in 1:52.4, while Hes Gone Badder (Calabrese) rounded out the trifecta.

Three out of the night’s four GSY winners are owned and trained by their victorious amateur drivers.

The GSY amateurs will be back in action next Friday (April 29) at The Meadowlands. First post is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.