by RUS MidAtlantic
East Rutherford, NJ — Continuing where he left off at Ocean Downs, Hyway Marcus went wire-to-wire to win Saturday (Sept. 9) night’s $5,000 Bill Weaver Memorial Trot, the second leg of the RUS MidAtlantic Monte Trotting Series at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Trained and piloted by Sasha Moczulski, Hyway Marcus tripped the teletimer in 1:59.4 for an 8-1/2 length victory for owner Keith Pippa of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Lisa photo
Hyway Marcus repeats with a second victory in the Bill Weaver Memorial Trot on Saturday evening.
The race was closer than the result indicated as Pine Tab (Helene Gregory) was tracking the leader the entire mile to close within a quarter-length of the winner in the stretch before he went off-stride, losing all chance.
One True Friend (Hillary Hartnett) finished second while Pine Tab was third but disqualified and placed sixth for the untimely miscue. Mr Protab (Emma Wahlberg) finished fourth but was elevated to the show spot.
Until the miscue, it was a two-horse race as Hyway Marcus and Pine Tab raced as a team to the quarter pole, hitting the first station in :28.2.
As they continued down the backstretch, Pine Tab decided to track the eventual victor, sitting a little more than three lengths behind the leader with The Franchise (Michelle Crawford) two lengths further back in third. The half was reached in a brisk :58.
Continuing around the final turn, The Franchise broke stride as Pine Tab made up some ground to be within two lengths of the eventual winner who reached the third station in 1:28.2.
One True Friend took over the third position vacated by The Franchise. Hyway Marcus continued to race strong despite the late onslaught by Pine Tab, who was determined not to be denied.
With his victory, the 6-year-old altered son of Gut Instinct is two-for-two this season with earnings of $4,600. Lifetime, Hyway Marcus has compiled a 7-5-1-0 record with career RUS earnings of $10,825. Despite earning over $182,000 and a 1:53.3 race mark ‘in sulky’, it is clear racing under saddle is his specialty.
With only nine horses competing in the series, all of Saturday night’s starters are eligible to compete in the RUS MidAtlantic series finale on Oct. 8 at Rosecroft Raceway. Most of Saturday night’s starters are expected to return.