Obrigado outlasts barrage of pressure, upsets TVG trot
November 13, 2016,by James Witherite, Meadowlands racing media
East Rutherford, NJ — Obrigado ($19.80), one of two of the eight in the $400,000 TVG Free-For-All Trot (race 10) to have not contested a Breeders Crown event two weeks ago, sought control of the terms early and dug in to parry a barrage of pressure in a compelling race which saw the entire octet covered by two lengths at the winning post.
Lisa Photo
Obrigado upends favored Resolve and Breeders Crown champion Bar Hopping to nose out Crazy Wow for victory in his TVG event.
The 6-year-old Boy Band gelding pushed clear of JL Cruze (John Campbell) following a :27.2 initial quarter-mile and worked to stave off the first-over threat of 3-year-old Crown champion Bar Hopping (Tetrick) through the far turn. Upon straightening for home, Mark MacDonald called upon Obrigado for every ounce of effort he had remaining, and the pair dug in to withstand a late three-wide charge from Crazy Wow (Gingras) by a nose in 1:52.4.
Lookslikeachpndale (Zeron) charged down the grandstand side to take third over odds-on favorite Resolve (Åke Svanstedt), who only could muster fourth place from a third-over trip while only missing by a neck.
Trainer Paul Kelley shares ownership of Obrigado with the SRF Stable, Linwood Higgins, and Stable 45.
- Bar Hopping to tackle older foes in TVG championship (Friday, November 11, 2016)
For the second consecutive year, trainer Jimmy Takter will send a 3-year-old colt to challenge older rivals in the TVG Free For All Series championship for trotters at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Last season, it was The Bank. This time, it is Bar Hopping, who on Saturday will try to become the first 3-year-old male trotter in recent history to win against older foes in a series final worth at least $100,000.
- TVG finals on center stage at Big M (Friday, November 11, 2016)
While Always B Miki’s curtain call in the $400,000 TVG Free For All Pace is rightfully bound to garner great attention on Saturday (Nov. 12) evening’s 12-race card at The Meadowlands, the showdown between Hannelore Hanover and Bee A Magician in the $200,000 TVG Mares Trot just two races earlier has all the makings of a race for the ages.
- Always B Miki sprints off in career curtain call (Saturday, November 12, 2016)
Always B Miki ($2.10) will always be remembered as a champion.The fastest pacer in the history of harness racing capped his career in triumphant fashion, using a sustained first-over bid to overpower All Bets Off and sprint off to a 1:48.2 victory in the $400,000 TVG Free-For-All Pace on Saturday evening (Nov. 12) evening at The Meadowlands.
- Hannelore Hanover, Lady Shadow prevail in TVG female contests (Saturday, November 12, 2016)
In the $200,000 TVG for trotting mares (race four), Hannelore Hanover ($3.60) rallied from off the pace to once again defeat Bee a Magician, vaulting home and reeling in the quadruple millionaire for a 1:51.4 score. Lady Shadow ($2.40) used nearly identical tactics as Always B Miki en route to her 1:50 win in the $200,000 TVG for pacing mares.