East Rutherford, NJ — With clear skies, a fast track and beautiful 49-degree temperature to start the night, the MADC club pacers took center stage for three races on the Friday night (April 7) Meadowlands card to start out the April month. All three races didn’t disappoint as none of the favorites won any of these events. The winners paid $16.20, $52.40 and $51.80.

In the first race on the card, it was another fight to get to the top from the opening quarter. After a :27.4 first quarter, Takeittotheface (Peter Kleinhans) grinded to the lead before the half over a stubborn Shanghai Bobby (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan).

As the field hit the third quarter, there was another new leader as Jonah (Joe Lee), who was parked for almost a half-mile took the lead as the field turned for home. That is when Sunshine’s Finest (William Clark Jr.) worked his horse from second over behind Lee to the lead and was able to stave off all challengers to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Kleinhans came back for second while longshot Master Conrad (Bruno Chiodo) got up for third. The mile went in 1:54.2.

The winner is a 7-year-old gelding co-owned by Clark along with Mary Cuerbo and is trained by Tom Shay.

The fifth race on the card found a few more leavers with one being hung on the rim for over a half-mile. It was Always A Panther (Tony Beltrami) who took the field through a :27.4 first quarter and :55.4 first half-mile clocking. He was able to sustain his bid as the field entered the stretch but the closers came pouncing from three- and four-wide.

In the end, it was another longshot, Mask On Mask Off (Cote Keim) who came from out of the clouds for the victory. Tisadream N (Anthony Verruso) got up for second and Beltrami ended up holding on for third. The mile was timed in 1:55.1. For some special tickets, this winner helped the 20-cent Pick-5 payoff to be $10,958.

The winner is a 4-year-old gelding, owned, trained and driven by Keim.

In the eighth and final MADC race of the night, the full field of ten had several that left hard for the lead again and after a :27.3 first quarter it was Trashytonguetalker (Robert Hechkoff) that was on the lead but soon overtaken by Little Honeybadger (Joe Lee) as the field approached the half.

The field started to develop the outer flow and in the stretch, there were horses coming from everywhere and another longshot, Lincoln Boulevard (Tony Beltrami), sent off at 24-1 odds, charged home to get up in time by 1-1/4 lengths over Lee. Another longshot, Concur (Nicole Dicostanzo), got up for the show dough. The mile went in 1:54.1.

The winner is a 5-year-old horse owned by Joseph Loprete and trained by Julius Czermann Jr.

The MADC is scheduled to be back in action next Friday at the Meadowlands. Post time is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.