from Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – George Brennan moved 35-1 longshot Soapy Sap three-wide on the turn for home and coaxed the filly to the front in the final 50 yards to win the second race, the first of three $15,000 opening leg divisions of the Charles Singer Memorial Trotting Series on Friday, opening night of the 21-date holiday harness meet at the Meadowlands.

The top 10 money earners from the November 17 and 24 legs of the series will advance to the $51,250 Charles Singer Memorial Final on December 1.

Soapy Sap [$35.40, $8.40, $5.40] finished two lengths ahead of 4-5 favorite Red Dragon [$2.80. $2.40]. AJs Send Money [$2.80] was third by three lengths.

It was the first victory of the year in 19 tries for Soapy Sap, a three-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide, who trotted a lifetime best of 1:57.3 for the mile.

Soapy Sap was acquired on October 5 by trainer Donald Maiorano of Edison, New Jersey, and Feore Orecchio of Somerville, New Jersey.

In the sixth race, the second division of the Singer, Fielder’s Choice [$11.40, $5.60, $3.40] caught a two-hole trip behind Drill Sergeant Sam and got up for a three-quarter-length victory in 1:55.3.

It was three-quarters of a length back to Earlivic [$3.40, $2.60] in second and another four lengths to Drill Sergeant Sam [$3.40] in third.

Un-raced at two, Fielders Choice now has three wins in seven starts for trainer C. Kevin Thomas of Lexington, Kentucky, who owns the son of Garland Lobell with the breeder, Ontario’s River Ridge Farm [the late Lyle Anderson]. Ron Pierce was the winning pilot.

Likeabatoutahell [$4.40, $3.00, $2.60] got up in the final strides to nip Instant Photo [$5.00, $3.60] for a neck victory in the eighth race, the last and fastest of the three Singer prelims. Penny Dream [$3.20] was two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Likeabatoutofhell trotted the mile in 1:55.4 for driver Brian Sears. The Trond Smedshammer trainee is owned by Michael Andrew of Gorham, Maine.

The three-year-old gelded son of SJ’s Caviar now has three wins, one second and three thirds in 14 starts.