East Rutherford, NJ – There were beautiful skies and a 60-degree temperature at post time for the first three amateur pace events that took place at the Big M Friday night (March 18).

The first race on the card featured a field of nine and two horses left the gate fast and furiously.  It was Waimac Attack N (Matt Zuccarello) who took the lead through a quarter in :27.1 but was quickly overtaken just after the quarter pole by post-time favorite Dream Out Loud N (Tony Beltrami).

These two raced one-two until S Mckee  (Juan Cano) popped out of the three hole but could only get to within a length of the leader.  As Cano dropped back in the stretch, Zuccarello pounced from the pocket and was able to grind down Beltrami in the final strides to win by a neck. Cano hung on for third. The mile went in 1:53.3.

It was the 100th win for part owners, Winners Circle Racing LLC partnership, and their first win ever a the Big M.   The other owners of the 9-year old Mach Three gelding are Lightning 5 Racing Stable of NY and Eldo Leonelli out of PA. Waimac Attack N is trained by Rob Harmon.

The fifth race on the card had two pacers leaving for the lead just like the first race, and after a moderate :28.1 first quarter, Statesman N (Newton (Yogi) Sheridan) took command and set some modest fractions (:58.1, 1:27) after that. He turned for home with the lead, and as the field approached the wire, five horses were within a length of victory.

It was Kingofthrjungle (David Glasser) who reigned supreme by sneaking up the cones to a head victory over Galactic Galleon N(Jonathan Ahle) with Sheridan hanging on for third.  The mile went in 1:55.  The 11 year-old Well Said gelding is owned by Glasser Racing LLC out of NJ and is trained by Mike Watson.

The seventh and final amateur race on the card was scratched down to a field of nine and four horses were in a breakaway pack for the first half mile while the other five were some eight lengths back.  That’s because Tuxedo Bay (Mark Silva) set blistering fractions of :27.1 and: 54.1 for the first quarter and half mile stanzas.

His lead started to shrink as the field entered the stretch and that’s when Sunshine’s Finest (William Clark Jr) moved first over in his rookie debut and overtook Silva to win by just over a length.  The mile went in 1:51.3, which is one of the fastest amateur miles in recent history.

It was a thrill for Will to pick up his first win at the Big M.   Silva held on for second while Doc Semalu (Anthony Verruso) was able to finish third by a nose in a photo over Mv Ok Palacio Br (Matt Zuccarello).  The 6-year-old Sunshine Beach gelding is owned by Mary Cuerbo out or NY and is trained by Tom Shay.

Racing fans are invited to the Big M next Friday night (March 25) as the amateurs will be in action and the public seems to enjoy betting on these races.  Post time for the first race is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.