East Rutherford, NJ – With heavy rains hitting parts of New Jersey, the Big M was surrounded by clouds but turned out to be “rain free” and a beautiful night of racing.

After a short hiatus, 10 amateur pacers went to the gate in the first race on the card and another sizzling speed duel ensued from the start.  Longshot speedster Cheyenne Ryan Lee, with Matt Zuccarello in the bike, left from his rail position and, even after settling his pacer down, went a sizzling 26.1 first quarter.

Bob Davis, driving Race Me Rocky, tried to clear but to no avail and was hung out for the entire mile.  This set things up for the closers, even though the second quarter was a more sensible 29 seconds but it still was a quick first half mile :55.1).

As the outer flow was developing towards the three-quarter pole, James “Axel” Foley, decided to pop the pocket just in time, as the field headed into the far turn.  He was able to clear the leader before the turn and snuck out in front of Scirocco Mistysaid, with Mark Silva holding the lines.

Foley hung on for a half-length victory over hard-closing Willie Boots, with John Calabrese in the sulky. Silva finished third with Scirocco Mistysaid.  The mile went in 1:53.1.

Johnny Chip, a 5-year old gelding (Big Bad John-This Is My Life), is trained by Andrew Harris and owned by Mark Jakubik of New York.

The GSY Series will take a break for a few weeks as the Meadowlands gears up for Hambletonian Day on Saturday, Aug. 8.  Racing for the amateurs will return sometime in September.