East Rutherford, NJ — With the warm spring weather around the corner, the action in the GSY Series is heating up. Ten pacers went to post Friday night (March 29) at The Meadowlands and all horses found a seat as they charged into the first turn.

That is where Benson Merrill, aboard front running Velocity Sub Z, found himself on the lead and was able to stay in front until the top of the stretch. He did have a challenger as they approached the half in post time favorite Rather Swell, with Bob Davis in the sulky, but he was never able to get the lead.

This set up the pocket sitting Quality Bud, with Mark Silva holding the lines, and once he found daylight he was able to shoot the gap to the lead and a three-quarter length victory. Getting up for second was Rockinwiththebest, with a late driver change to Bob Hechkoff, and Davis was able to hold onto third with Rather Swell, after being on the outside for three-quarters of a mile.

The race was timed in a fast 1:52.2.

Silva went off as the second choice on the board and paid a generous $6.20 for all of his backers for a $2 win wager.

Quality Bud, a 6-year-old gelding by Quality Western, is owned by My Buddy Stables and is trained by Carl Tirella.

The GSY will be back next week for its fourth leg with a first race post slated for 7:15 p.m.