East Rutherford, NJ — With rain falling at the start of the card at The Meadowlands, the amateur drivers and their pacers took center stage for three races on the Friday (May 6) card.

The first race featured a scramble in the first turn in the slop for the lead and after a swift :27.2 first quarter, Darth Fader (Cameron Capone) took the lead and wasn’t letting anyone go. That is because he went a blistering :54.3 first half and he eventually faded in the stretch. That set it up for some of the closers to come calling and when the finish approached, it was Cecil Casanova (Mark Silva) who was first under the line. He ended up winning by 1-1/4 lengths over hard charging Takeittotheface (David Yarock) with A B Collins (Anthony Verruso) rounding out the trifecta. The mile went in 1:53.

The winner is a 6-year-old gelding, owned by All Star Racing Inc. and is also trained by Silva.

The fifth race featured nine more pacers going to post and after a slow give and go, Dream Out Loud N (Tony Beltrami) took the lead and made his move a winning one by 1-1/4 lengths over pocket sitter Causway (McKenzie Sowers). Fernado (Tony Ciuffetelli) came from a decent way back to finish third. The mile went in 1:53.4.

The winning 15-year-old gelding is owned by Beltrami and is trained by Edwin Quevedo.

The amateurs were back in action for one more event on race seven. Ferdinand A (James Slendorn) went right to the lead and set some sensible fractions for the first three-quarters of a mile but could not sustain his advantage and ended up finishing third. Casino Bags Anso (Beltrami) came up the inside to pick up the win and longshot Allgonowhoa (Don Johnson) ended up second. The mile went in 1:53.3. It was Beltrami’s second win of the evening.

The winner is a 9-year-old gelding, owned by Triple Q Stables and is trained by Quevedo.

The GSY amateurs will be back in action next Friday at The Meadowlands. The first post is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.