East Rutherford, NJ – With just two MADC races carded Friday night (one pace and one trot), the betting public was treated to ideal racing conditions along with photo finishes in both events.

The first race featured the top two leavers sitting first and second, finishing that way in reverse order. It was a patient pocket-sitting journey for James Slendorn, driving his Harry Hanover to victory, but he let most of the heavy lifting to the pacesetter Yayas Hot Spot N (Newton “Yogi” Sheridan).

Sheridan carved out sensible fractions for a majority of the mile, but Slendorn tipped off of the leader deep into the stretch to nab him by a nose at the finish line. The favorite, Brazen Brazilian (Michael Kimelman) could only muster up a third-place finish.

The final time for the race went in 1:53.3. The 5 year-old gelding is owned by Slendorn and trained by Kelvin Harrison.

In the fifth race, it was the top three horses after the quarter pole that finished in the money, but the story was a much different one.

Once Lionhead (Sheridan) got the lead, he let longshot (54-1) Archibald (William Harrison) carve out the pace deep into the stretch and it looked like he was going to pull off the upset. That was until race favorite Fashion Cantab (Anthony Verruso) skimmed the cones late to garner the victory by a head over the stubborn longshot leader.

This made for a Symon Spicer trainee ($2) exacta, that paid a generous amount ($124.80) for anyone betting this combo.

Sheridan was able to hold onto third, only 1-3/4 lengths back of the top two finishers. The mile went in 1:56.3. Spicer trains the son of the Cantab Hall gelding for owner George Beck out of NJ.

The MADC will be back Saturday night (July 20) with the first post scheduled for 6:20 p.m.