EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Grasshoppers use their strong jaws to chew leaves, which is appropriate for the Joe Bongiorno trained and driven Go Go Grasshopper (Dear Lou), who gobbled up his opponents in the harness races in the shadow of the barbed wire to play the Saturday night match at The Meadowlands, a $17,500 high-end conditioned pace.
“This year things didn’t go well for him,” Bongiorno said. “We missed most of the season with him, but now he is a top horse who is getting back into shape.”
Sweet Lou-Faster Faster’s 3-year-old ridgling, with a sparkling score compared to just off the pace of a week ago, did the same again, but this time in better company.
Go Go Grasshopper, Bondi Lockdown A and 3-5 favorite Sugar Man were all well away from the gate in the nine-horse field as ‘Grasshopper’ reached the quarter in:27. Sugar Man then left the three-hole and sprinted to the top just after the three-eighths before Lyons Steel then took the point while parked at the half in :55.2.
They lined up Lyons Steel-Sugar Man-Go Go Grasshopper as they went three-quarters past in 1:23.3.
“I thought I was going to be behind Brett in the two holes [Beckwith, driving Sugar Man]but Jordan [Stratton, driving Lyons Steel] set his horse into motion with force. I was not surprised that Jordan was in the lead, because that horse has a lot of speed.”
When the field reached the top of the stretch, Sugar Man was out of the pocket and chasing the leader with Go Go Grasshopper right behind him.
“In the end it turned out very well,” said Bongiorno. “Brett slipped in the last corner. The horse in front was ready and I was allowed to stay.” [Brett’s] helmet. My horse has a big speed boost and has been looking for a ride for a while.”
It would be Go Go Grasshopper who would gain the upper hand after securing the top at the finish. He won by half a length from Sugar Man with Lyons Steel third. The time for the mile was 1:50.1.
GO GO GRASSHOPPER REPLAY
“We’re looking forward to seeing what’s in store for him,” Bongiorno said. ‘We’ll use it for the Graduate and then see how it goes.’
As second choice at 2-1, Go Go gave Grasshopper back $6.20 to win. He now has six wins from 15 career starts for earnings of $223,580 for owners Let It Ride Stables, Odds On Racing and JB Racing.
A LITTLE MORE: Brett Beckwith was once again the man with the hot hands, leading the driver colony with three wins. He also beat drivers on Thursday and Friday, finishing the three-day race week with 11 wins, the most of any driver in The Big M during a single race week. Mark Herschberger was the first to win ten times during a week of racing, but only two cards were contested after Thanksgiving Day. … The two winners of Bongiorno walked up and down past the trainers. … All sources on the 14-race card totaled $2,710,924. … Racing resumes Thursday at 6:20 p.m
For full race results, click here: American trotting results
Through Dave Kleinfor The Meadowlands
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