East Rutherford, NJ — With three races carded Friday night (Nov. 15), the MADC series was back at it at The Meadowlands and giving you some early holiday prices to boot. The first two races featured double digit payouts and some exciting finishes.
In the first race on the card, it was a sprint to the quarter for Peter Kleinhans aboard his Kissinbythebeaches, who blazed the way through the quarter in :27. After letting someone go just after the first quarter-mile marker, he quickly retook the lead but didn’t slow up, going to the half in a demanding :54.2. This taxing first half-mile would have seemed to have taken a lot out of the leader but he found more in the stretch, staving off all challengers to hold on to victory by just under a length over Firstup (Anthony Verruso), while the pocket sitter Harry Hanover (Geovany Hernandez) rounded out the trifecta. The mile went in 1:53.2. Kleinhans also owns this gelding who paid $24.20 at the windows. He is trained by Veronica Spicer.
In the fifth race, a speed duel ensued to the quarter and half-mile markers as a stubborn Fredneck (Tony Beltrami) wouldn’t relinquish the lead to the favorite Rock Jagger (Verruso) and this would take its toll in the end as both finished near the top but not first at the wire. That’s because Hello Rocky (Hernandez) came from last and three-wide around the final turn to get up in time and win by a length. Verruso, who was hung the entire mile, still ended up second over his dueling counterpart Beltrami, who held on for third. This mile was timed in 1:53.4. Hernandez also owns and trains the winner, a 6-year-old gelding.
In the 14th and final race on the card, the field was scratched down to nine and that didn’t stop several leaving hard once the wings closed. After a give and go to the first quarter, it was Ferdinand A (James Slendorn) who set the pace for the first half-mile but was quickly overtaken by the big favorite Coach Wendl (Yogi Sheridan) before the three-quarter pole. He was able to hold off a late charge by longshot Iammrbrightside N (Verruso), while Rockabilly Charm (Hernandez) held on for third. This mile went in 1:55.3. The winner, a 4-year-old gelding, is owned by Stratton Stable Inc. and is trained by Victoria Stratton.
The MADC series will be back on Saturday night for three races, two being a pace and the other a trotting event. Post time is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.