East Rutherford, NJ– With the temperature in the low-30s at post time, the second race on the Big M card featured nine pacers going to post on Friday (Feb. 18). As many have become accustomed to, another speed duel ensued when the wings of the gate folded. Ferdinand A (James Slendorn) left hard from his outside post and once he took the lead, he wasn’t going to relinquish it to anyone.
He left Casino Bags Anso (Tony Beltrami) parked outside through a :27.2 quarter and :55.2 half mile timing. This proved to be costly as some of the closers developed in the outer flow just past the half mile marker. When the field entered the stretch, Slendorn’s lead had slipped away and he was passed by Master Conrad (Bruno Chiodo), who ended up a neck ahead at the finish over post time favorite, Mv Ok Palacio Br (Rob Harmon). Slendorn held on to third.
The mile went in 1:55.3 The 5-year-old gelding is owned by Chiodo Racing LLC out of NJ and trained by Bruno’s wife, Stacy Chiodo.
The seventh race on the card featured several leavers vying for early supremacy and after a give and go at the quarter pole, Dream Out Loud N (Beltrami) found his spot on the front end. He was able to stave off all challengers including his stablemate, El’s Disco Johnny (Juan Cano) by a head length victory. The mile was timed in 1:54.3. Galactic Galleon N (Jonathan Ahle) finished third. The 15-year-old gelding is owned by Beltrami out of Pennsylvania and trained by Williams Hernandez.
The GSY amateurs will be back in action next Friday (Feb. 25) at the Meadowlands. The first post is scheduled for 6:20p.m.