from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Lightning Treasure, a 13-1 longshot, created an upset after firing out of the gate and leading all the way home to win the $72,400 Night Styles final on Thursday night (March 12) at the Meadowlands.

Lisa photo

Lightning Treasure lit up the tote board in winning the Night Styles final.

With regular driver Ron Pierce serving suspension days, Yannick Gingras picked up the catch drive and piloted Lightning Treasure ($20.80 $9.00 $5.60) to victory in 1:52.3. Temptress El ($4.60 $3.20) rallied late down the stretch to pick up second while PW Michelle ($13.00) finished third.

“My plan was to leave the gate all along from the moment I found out I was driving,” Gingras said. “I was hoping actually to get covered up. I slammed the brakes a little bit around the back stretch and no one came so at the half I said let’s take a chance right here. I knew nobody really left and 1 (Haunted), 2 (Mystra), 3 (PW Michelle) were right behind me and they weren’t the ones to worry about. Teenage Paige was back and Perfect Sport also so that’s why I decided to go.”

Lightning Treasure scored her fourth career victory for trainer Anthony Mannino, with one of those wins being in the first leg of the Night Styles Series. The daughter of Western Ideal-Treasure The Best boosted her career earnings to more than $100,000 for owner The Lightning Stable.