East Rutherford, NJ –  On a mild high 40s Friday night (Feb. 11) at the Meadowlands, the amateurs took center stage in races four and seven on the card.

The first of two featured several leavers scrambling for the top, a few early movers into the outer flow, which in essence set it up for the closers.

As Kingofthejungle (David Glasser) set sail for the lead in :27.2, he was quickly challenged by Watchmeneighneigh (Tony Beltrami), who moved early to try and gain the top spot, but Glasser held him off as the two tussled through a :56.3 half mile.

As the field was turning for home, Hes Gone Badder (Tony Verruso) tipped off of cover three wide and was able to open up two lengths on the field, which proved to be the key to his length victory.  He was being followed by Mv Ok Palacio Br (Matt Zuccarello) who cut into the margin but came up a length short, as all three top finishers came home in a sizzling 27.2. Longshot Bungalow Bill N(Jonathan Ahle) rounded out the trifecta.  The mile went in 1:53.4.

Verruso’s deft move down the backside getting out just in front of Zuccarello proved pivotal in his victory as he continues his great start to the 2022 campaign.  The 8-year-old gelding is owned by Mark Toth out of NJ and trained by Symon Spicer.

The seventh race on the card featured lots of early speed with one of the leavers being parked for the entire mile.  As the field hit the quarter pole, it was the old classy Dream Out Loud N (Tony Beltrami) who got to a relatively easy lead relatively a :27.4 opening quarter.

He was challenged going to the half by a parked out Cliffhanger (Jacob Stillwell), who grinded out a tough mile and was able to hold on to a fourth-place finish.

As the field entered the stretch, it was Captain Hill (Tony Verruso) who gained the lead and looked like it was going to be a driving double for the 2021 Amateur of the Year, but right before the finish line, he was “collared” by Father Sarducci (James Slendorn), who rode the pylons for a head victory.  Beltrami was able to hold on to third.  The mile went in 1:53.4.  The 9-year old gelding is owned by Slendorn out of NJ and is trained by Mark Kesmodel.

The GSY amateurs will be back in action next Friday (Feb. 18)at the Meadowlands and possibly at Freehold as well.