East Rutherford, NJ — The MADC series featured three races on the Friday night (Nov. 17) card at the Meadowlands. As always, the races featured a lot of speed from the start, and two out of the three races saw their favorites defeated.

In the first race on the card, favorite Just A Rocket Man and driver Newton “Yogi” Sheridan left like a rocket from his outside post nine draw through a :26.3 quarter. He didn’t back it down too much to the half mile stanza but it didn’t matter, as he coasted home to win by over three lengths in 1:52.4 over MV OK Palacio BR (David Glasser) and In Nevada N (Bruno Chiodo). The 5-year old gelding is owned by Bryan Quevedo and is trained by Edwin Quevedo.

In the fifth race, only two leavers who wanted the top spot. After being parked to the quarter, Lyons Pride (Nicole DiCostanzo) had no other choice but to drive on and try to reach the top. DiCostanzo ended up clearing just after the quarter pole, stepped on the accelerator, and never had an anxious moment from there. She bottomed out the field to win by over four lengths in 1:53.3. A few of the closers made some mid-race moves to pick up the minor spots: Long shot Shortys Girl (Jacob Stillwell) rounded out the exacta while Camlachie Chrome (Cote Keim) picked up third. Lyons Pride, a 4-year old gelding, is also trained by DiCostanzo, who co-owns with Alynino Stables.

In the third and final MADC race of the night (race seven), another scramble for the lead and drama throughout the mile led to an exciting finish. After long shot Bargain Shopper (Jacob Stillwell) led the field through a quarter in :27.2, he was quickly overpowered by I’m Burlington N (Cameron Capone). He towed the field into the stretch, but horses were coming from everywhere. In the end, it was the horse that started out last from his outside post that came home the fastest and got up in the last stride for driver Michael Kimelman. The youngest horse in the field, T Dog, came at least five-wide in the stretch to win in 1:52.3 with his last quarter timed in :26.4. Rock On Line (Anthony Verruso) finished second; long shot Seeuinnashville A (Peter Kleinhans) bested Big Bad Bill (Matt Zuccarello) in a photo for third. T Dog, a 3-year old gelding, is trained by Kimelman, who also co-owns with Sara, Oscar and Olivia Kimelman.