East Rutherford, NJ — With the temperatures in the mid-30s, the greatest amateur pace show on earth, known as the GSY series took center stage for three races on Friday night’s (March 4) card.

The third race featured ten pacers going to post and after some jostling for position going to the quarter pole, longshot S Mckee (Juan Cano) took the lead from another longshot Topville Cruiser (Cote Keim).

After a fast :27.2 opening quarter, Cano was able to throttle down his pacer on the lead through comfortable second and third quarters in :30 seconds flat each.  He looked like he was a winner in the stretch but as his pacer tired, it was GSY Club President Dave Yarock, aboard Doctor Butch, who skimmed the cones en route to a length victory.

Post time favorite, Always A Force (Anthony Verruso) closed late to finish second ahead of Cano, who faded to third.  The mile went in 1:56.2.  Yarock paid a generous $20 for a $2 win bet for his backers of this classy $1.6 million earner.  The 12-year old horse is owned by Ettore Annunziata Rev Tr out of NY and is trained by Michael Annuziata.

The fifth race on the card featured ten more pacers going to post.  After another mad scramble for the lead that led to a fast :27.2 quarter, it was Gottalovemyshadow (Tony Beltrami) who ground his way to the top after the first quarter marker, but was quickly overtaken by the early leader, Ferdinand A (James Slendorn), who retook the lead and was able to hold onto it until the field entered the stretch.

That is when horses were closing from the back of the pack and a stretch duel ensued.  In the end, it was rookie Dakota Jackson aboard his fresh claim, Captain’s Reign, who reigned supreme by a nose victory over Doc Semalu (Verruso), and Beltrami faded to a third place finish.  The mile went in 1:54.1.  The five-year old gelding is owned, trained, and driven by Jackson out of Michigan.  It was his first win at the Big M and he was very enthusiastic in the winners circle.

The seventh race on the card featured some late night hardball as several horses left hard for the top spot.  The dueling leaders after a quick opening quarter (:27.3) were El’s Disco Johnny (Cano) and Stellar BB (James Slendorn) who was hung on the outside through a grueling :55.4 half mile.

This set it up for the closers behind Slendorn on the outside to come calling and after tipping off of his cover at the top of the stretch, Notabadgame (Verruso) opened up and went on to a 2-1/4 length victory.

After two runner-up finishes on the night, he made his final drive of the evening a winning one.  Mv Ok Palacio Br (Matt Zuccarello) closed for a good second place finish and longshot Cliffhanger (Jacob Stillwell) rounded out the trifecta.  This race went in 1:54.  The 7 year-old gelding is owned by P T Stable out of New Jersey and is trained by Symon Spicer.

The GSY amateurs will be back in action next Friday (March 11) at the Meadowlands.  The first post is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.