On a night that saw four Exit 16W Pop Up Series finals, Big Ego (Captain Crunch) was the only competitor looking to sweep his division over three races on Thursday night at The Meadowlands, but was still sent to the gate as second choice at 3-2 in the betting.
His fans weren’t complaining.
In the $32,500 for 2- and 3-year-old stallions and geldings (race six), Big Ego was a boss who would not be denied. He came out in fifth place along the rail at the half and then sprinted to leader Doctor Arroganto at three-quarters, which was timed in 1:23.4, before running clear to a score of 1¼ lengths in a lifetime best 1:51. Rider Hanover, the 3-5 favorite, worked a pocket trip but only found room to race at the deepest point and had to settle for second. Watchfire came third.
“When you leave the car, with a horse like him you can have options,” said winning driver Braxten Boyd of Amanda Fine trainee. “Going out of the gate it looked like I would probably have to use it a little too hard to get to the lead or the two holes. [as Rider Hanover blazed his way to the top in :27.2]so I just got into it and let it play out for a bit.
“Brett’s [Beckwith] horse [Doctor Arroganto] has some difficulty in the bend. I had to attack him at that moment and then I was the one who could have beaten us [Rider Hanover] exactly where I wanted it. My horse exploded when we freed Brett. I couldn’t be happier with him. All drivers love horses that love [going] first pass. It’s a lot of fun.”
Big Ego, a three-year-old gelding son of Captain Crunch-Kiss Me, paid $5 to win after recording his fifth lifetime score from just 14 attempts.
BIG EGO REPEAT
In the most interesting duo of the evening, Hey Porter defeated arch-rival A Real Legend by a distance in the 10th race in a lifetime-best 1:51.4 in the $37,500 split for trotters winners of four but no more than seven races.
The pair each recorded one win in the preliminary rounds, while the other finished second. In both races, A Real Legend was the odds-on favorite, but this time it was Hey Porter who cut the stakes to 3-5.
And he delivered.
A true legend exploded out of the gate from post five, but Hey Porter was also on his way from hole six and even had a nose up at the :28 quarter. The duo were 1-2 after half-time in:55.4 as Top Mast began to put together a challenge that didn’t amount to much as Hey Porter maintained a safe lead until past three-quarters (1:24.1) and all the way to the wire. Arrowhead Hanover came in third.
“I didn’t really care how it turned out,” said winning driver Beckwith on whether he would race on the point or in the pocket. “Mine is versatile and he does basically anything you ask him to do. He’s a cool little horse. He has no flaws. It was a huge mile tonight. Every time a trotter can go [1]:51[.4] if it is a bit chilly is a very important characteristic.”
Hey Porter, a three-year-old gelding son of Bar Hopping-Chelsees A Winner, is a trainee of Enrico Robinson who now has seven wins in 26 career attempts. He gave back $3.20 to win.
*BARTLETT AND ALAGNA DOUBLE: *Jason Bartlett, the new Dan Patch Driver of the Year, and trainer Tony Alagna teamed up to win the other two Exit 16W finals.
Luisa Hanover smashed her foes with her body in the third race, a $32,500 division for 2- and 3-year-old fillies, winning by 5½ lengths over She Stings in a lifetime-best 1:52.2 to remain undefeated in her short career. Turn Up The Music came third.
The 2 year old daughter of Captain treacherous-Lillian Hanover jumped out of the three-hole on the five-eighth and mowed down her foes as she cruised the course first with ease. She certainly didn’t look like a horse that was only making its second start in life.
“I decided to skip the second leg of the series,” Alagna said. “And just go into the final. She was nice and relaxed in the post parade tonight compared to her first start under the lights.”
“Jason took out the earplugs at the beginning of the stretch because she was so relaxed. He wanted her to walk the wire vigorously, and she did, boy. She’s getting a break now to prepare for next year.”
As a 1-2 favorite, Luisa Hanover paid $3 to win.
Benny J, a 4 year old son of Walter-Anywhere With You completed the Bartlett-Alagna double by winning the fifth race, which was the $35,000 split for trotters who were winners of two but no more than four races, in 1:52.4, boosting his stats to four wins in 33 career attempts.
The even-money favorite, who returned $4.20 to his backers, was dealing with fewer shares than he usually does.
“Between the four-year-old Kentucky Sire Stakes and the MGM Grand Prix Series [at Yonkers]Alagna said. “It was nice for him to get a nice payday against a lighter bunch.”
After jumping out of the five-hole at the half, Benny J moved quickly towards leader Glutes Hanover, sailing past that foe at the start of the stretch en route to an easy one-length victory. Clear For Landing came in second and Messenger Hanover third.
*WINNERS, WINNERS EVERYWHERE: *Ken Warkentin and Andrew “Shades” Demsky led the Big M disability talent charts with six winners each. Joe Romanelli continued his red-hot behavior with five at the top, giving ‘Joe Ro’ 24 winners from the last 52 races.
Mike Bozich lacked quantity but made up for it with quality, taking everyone out by correctly selecting the winner ($25.20 to win), cold exacta ($62) and cold trifecta ($582.20) in the 12th race.
*NO MORE:*No winning tickets were sold for the 20-cent Pick-6, creating a carryover of $3,087 when racing resumed. Those with five correct selections collected $26.76. … Beckwith, Bartlett and Mark Herschberger were all tied on the driver standings with two winners each. … Alagna’s doppelgänger led the trainers. … All sources for the 12-race program totaled $1,600,765. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m
For full race results, click here: American trotting results
Through Dave Kleinfor The Meadowlands
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