EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Overcoming a track that was extremely unfriendly to horses racing at the front, Simply Perfect (Captain treacherous) moved into the lead while parked at the half in :55.2 before moving on to an easy trotting race score in the featured $12,500 mid-range conditioned pacing feature for fillies and mares at The Meadowlands Friday evening.
The 3 year old daughter of Captain treacherous-Stacia Hanover opened at three quarters some distance up the field, which was timed in 1:23.2, and was an easy winner from then on, touching the wire 1¼ lengths ahead of the 6-5 favorite Take Your Pick. TH Summer Lovin came third. The time for the mile was 1:50.4, a lifetime record.
“It was the first time I rode with her,” said winning driver Mark Herschberger. “She really kept going up first [to the half] and it looked like we could get there quite easily.
Simply Perfect was sent to the gate as the 5-1 third choice in the eight-horse field, returning $13.80 to her backers after winning for the fifth time in 23 career outings, bringing her earnings to just a hair under $150,000.
EASY PERFECT REPEAT
For winning trainer Ron Burke it was business as usual. As reported Friday by Ken Weingartner, Media Relations Manager for the United States Trotting Association, Burke ended race day Thursday with season revenues of $28.52 million, an all-time record. Not surprisingly, Burke had the $28.41 million mark, which he set in 2014.
Burke, who will surely be named Dan Patch Trainer of the Year, campaigned for some of harness racing’s biggest stars in 2025, including Horse of the Year candidate Louprint, Trotter of the Year hopeful Lexus Kody, along with standouts Loua Dipa and Rodeo Drive Deo.
SIZZLIN STURMAN: Brett Sturman had a great night as he appeared as co-host for the second time on the Big M’s live simulcast presentation, which saw five winners awarded on the program, including some healthy payouts.
Sturman dealt American Power ($5.20 to win) in the third race; Alta Blues N ($17, $75.40 exacta) in the seventh; and Who Said I Can’t ($4) in the 10e.
The Harness Racing Update columnist then treated his followers to some big tickets for the final two races, selecting Hold My Tiara ($23.40) in the 12 races.e dash and Bettorseetheshow ($5.40) in the 13e for an ice-cold late double that earned $107.20.
A LITTLE MORE: No winning tickets were sold for the 20-cent Pick-6, leaving a carryover of $2,397 for Saturday’s program. The Pick-6 will be offered at races seven through twelve. … Receive free program pages for every race of every Meadowlands card at Speelweidelands.com. … Herschberger and Braxten Boyd led the driver colony with a pair of wins each. … All sources for the 13-race program totaled $2,171,119. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m
For full race results, click here: American trotting results
Through Dave Kleinfor The Meadowlands
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