East Rutherford, NJ – There were only two MADC events on Saturday night (June 24) but both provided some exciting finishes, blistering fractions, with neither race favorites once again winning. A dead heat was even had in one of the races.

After morning showers that created a good track for qualifiers, the track was fast for the first race with the temperatures comfortably in the mid 70s.

In the first race, there were two leavers for early supremacy but when Preppy Art (Jim King Solomon) took early command through a sizzling :26.1, he wasn’t letting anyone else get to the top and this ended up costing him any shot at winning.

Gotta Minute N and William Clark Jr. was last at the half but rallied up the pylons to win by three lengths in the first of two MADC races Saturday at The Meadowlands. Lisa Photo.

Skyway Billy (Tony Beltrami) was quartering moving with the post time favorite, but could never get to the top, as the leader kept on through an eye popping :53.4 first half mile. This brought the outer tier and closers into play and as the field turned for home, Jumping Jake (Matt Zuccarello) tipped off of his cover and cleared to the lead. It wasn’t until the rail opened up just enough for Gotta Minute N (William Clark Jr.), who was last at the half to sneak up the pylons to win by three lengths. Zuccarello held second with the longest shot on the board while Premier Joy A(Mckenzie Sowers) rounded out a nice trifecta.

The winner paid $30.20 for every $2 win ticket and the exacta came back a jaw-dropping $605.80 for every $2 winning wager.

The mile went in 1:52. The 10-year old gelding is owned by Ettore Annunziata Rev Trust out of NY and is trained by Michael Annunziata.

The Downtown Bus with Anthony Verusso and Claytons Bettor N driven by James Sledorn finished in a dead heat in the second MADC contest at The Meadowlands on Saturday night. Lisa Photo.

The fifth race featured a lot of action but with only one main leaver, Claytons Bettor N (James Slendorn), who was able to get to the top from his nine post but went a quick :26.4. He was able to throttle down the leader’s speed through a tepid :30.3 second quarter and this sent the outer flow into a frenzy.

The Downtown Bus (Anthony Verruso) was the first to pull as Big Bad Bill (Matt Zuccarello) was able to flush out cover and these two moved up steadily on the outside. As the field approached the wire, it was a four-horse dash to the finish, which after the judges reviewed the photo declared the race a dead heat between Slendorn and Verruso.

Only a half length back and noses apart for third and fourth were Virgil N (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan), who after that photo finished third over Zuccarello. This mile went in 1:53.3

Both winners were 8 year-old geldings with trainer Symon Spicer for owner PT Stable out of NJ and Slendorn’s horse owned by himself out of NJ and trained by Kelvin Harrison.

The MADC will be back next Friday night (June 30) with the first post scheduled for 6:20 p.m.