by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ — Hawk’s Red Chief continued his winning ways Saturday (July 2) night at the Meadowlands, taking the $17,500 featured conditioned pace in determined fashion for his seventh win of the year in only 10 starts.

Lisa Photo

Hawk’s Red Chief picks up his seventh win from 10 trips to the gate in 2016.

<span span="" The 5-year-old gelded son of I Scoot Hanover was away well from post five and had the lead in a leisurely :28 at the quarter. Another rated fraction followed as the half was reached in :56.3 before the cadence quickened considerably.

Medoland Jate, a 17-1 longshot, came first-over and raced alongside the leader as three-quarters went in 1:23.3, but Hawk’s Red Chief shrugged off that challenger through the stretch before having to hold off another longshot, 30-1 chance Rockin Wizard, who rallied well along the rail, only to come up a neck short. Americanprimetime finished third with Medoland Jate fourth.

Dealt A Winner, the 2015 Cane Pace winner and 3-5 favorite, was far back most of the way and paced evenly in deep stretch after going a third-over trip to finish fifth.

Hawk’s Red Chief, who paced his back-half in a sizzling :53.3, completed the mile in 1:50.1 and paid $7.40 as the 5-2 second choice for driver Joe Bongiorno, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Michelle Yanek.

STILL GROWING: The fifth race 20-cent Jackpot Super High Five once again did not have a single-ticket winner, upping the carryover for the next program to $30,444.15.

Pat Berry led the driver colony with three winners on the card.

The Meadowlands returns with live racing Friday (July 8) at 7:15 p.m.