East Rutherford, NJ- With the temperature just below 50 degrees, the MADC series featured three races on the Friday (Nov. 3) night card. As always, the races featured a lot of action from the start and some prices on the short side for these fields, except for the last race.

As is customary under the Friday night lights, several horses left hard for early supremacy with one paying the price, being parked on the outside for the entire mile that flashed a swift :27 second first quarter. Two of the drivers that normally like being on or near the front, Newton “Yogi” Sheridan and James Slendorn, were sitting one and two as the field entered the stretch but the early fast fractions took its toll on the pacesetters and set this one up for the closers.

It was an aggressive three-wide blitz from the post time favorite Sunshine’s Finest (Will “The Thrill” Clark Jr.) who took the lead in the stretch and ended up winning by just over three lengths in a mile timed in 1:53.1. Finishing second was P L Portia (Tony Beltrami), while pocket sitter Harry Hanover (James Slendorn) hung on for third. The 7-year old gelding is owned by Clark Jr. himself along with Mary Cuerbo, both out of New York and is trained by Tom Shay.

In the fifth race on the card, it was another mad dash to the lead that once again led to one horse not being able to make it to the top and was parked for the entire race. I’m Burlington N (Cameron “Al” Capone) set sail through a fast :27 opening quarter and :55.1 half mile stanza but his gameplan this week was to put the gas pedal down and try to bottom out the field.

Although shortening strides in the stretch, his gameplan worked out to perfection as he was able to hold onto the lead and victory by just over two lengths in 1:53. Longshot Shortys Girl (Jake Stillwell) got up for second while Thndrfrmthethron N (Neil “Diamond” Glasser) rounded out the trifecta. The 8-year old gelding is also trained by Capone himself for owner Paul Kautz out of New Jersey.

In the eighth and final MADC race on the card, it was another scramble for the lead that led to a blazing :26.4 first quarter mile time. Its Showtime (Tony Beltrami) wrangled the lead from his outside post and looked to be a winner in the deep stretch but was collared late on the inside by longshot Yer So Bad (Anthony “The Capo” Verruso). He was buried with pace at the top of the stretch and somehow squeezed his way out and then back down to the pylons to get up in the final stride.

The mile went in 1:53.3. Beltrami, also at double digit odds, held on to second while Homestretch Wes (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan) rounded out a big trifecta. The exacta came back for $2 at $979.20 while a $2 winning trifecta ticket paid a handsome $8414.80. The 6-year old gelding is owned by Karen Taft out of NJ and is trained by Symon Spicer.

The MADC will be back next Friday (Nov. 10) night for more exciting harness racing action. Post time is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.