by Matt Zuccarello, GSY Series Reporter

East Rutherford, NJ — Under beautiful summer conditions, eight trotters went to post on Friday night (June 29) in the third race at The Meadowlands. This was the final for the Hot To Trot Series and carried a purse of $12,500.

Lisa photo

Fiji and David Offenberg won the Hot To Trot Series final.

Unlike most of the amateur races, there was only one hard leaver as the gate opened and that is where Fiji, with David Offenberg in the sulky, found himself before the quarter pole. There was an early breaker just after the start, who also interfered with second betting choice Tech Titan, driven by Sarah Svanstedt, and she was never able to get back into the race.

Fiji went the first quarter in a modest :28.1 for this caliber of amateur trotters and was not going to let anyone else take the lead from him. He blistered the half in :55.4 (second quarter in :27.3) and remained on top as the trotters turned for home.

A few horses pulled out to try to cut into Offenberg’s lead but it was to no avail. He was able to pull away in the stretch en route to a three length victory and hit the finish line for the mile event in 1:53.3. This was one of the fastest amateur trot races at the Meadowlands and in the history of the sport. He picked up his second win at the Meadowlands in his career and a majority of the $12,500 purse.

Closing from well back was Hot Summer Knight, with Rob Harmon doing the driving, and holding on for third was the 86-1 longshot Hes A Castoff, with Tony Beltrami holding the lines.

Fiji is a 5-year-old gelding by Cantab Hall and is owned by Offenberg’s Allister Stables and is trained by Eric Abbatiello.

The stakes action is heating up at the Meadowlands every Friday and Saturday night but stay tuned as the GSY club will be back in action sometime later on this season.