EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – In an exciting harness racing feature highlighted by a cut-throat battle for supremacy at the front, Stellar Yankee (Always B Miki) took his time and came from the back of the pack to record a thrilling off-the-pace win, recording a second straight victory in the $19,000 claiming handicap for pacers in front of a price tag of no less than $40,000 and no more than $60,000 Saturday night at The Meadowlands.
Winning driver Jordan Stratton wanted to leave the gate, but aborted that mission. He is undoubtedly happy with the way everything turned out.
Dream Bird, with the longest shot on the board at 31-1, sprinted off the rail early in the shortened six-horse field. Boston Bound, the 8-5 favorite, was in the early battle, presumably on its way to try to take the field wire-to-wire, but driver Joe Bongiorno was having none of it as Dream Bird sliced away scorching fractions of :25.4 and :52.3, leaving Boston Bound parked for the second straight week while lightweight 8-5 second choice Soho Santorini A sat in the pocket and licked his chops as the top two beat him hit. out.
At three-quarters, Dream Bird clung to a narrow edge on Boston Bound in a remarkable 1:20.4, and Colin Kelly waved ‘Soho’ out, but by now Stellar Yankee, racing three wide near the start of the stretch, pulled ahead of Soho Santorini A and stopped the momentum from that one when ‘Yankee’ made a great late bid.
Stellar Yankee flew into the air during a personal final quarter of :27.4, flying past the field to record an easy three-length victory. In addition, the 8-year-old gelding son of Always B Miki-Somethinginawater lowered his lifetime best time for the second week in a row, this time stopping the clock in 1:49.1. In another incredible competitive effort, Boston Bound finished second, while Mamba finished third.
STELLAR YANKEE REPEAT
“I wasn’t invited to go to the front,” Stratton said. “But on a short field I was able to get out. He’s always an honest horse when he comes here to The Meadowlands, and tonight he gobbled them up.”
Stellar Yankee has now won four of his last eleven starts since beginning his streak at the low non-winner level of $2,500 in late November. Throughout his life, the Cory Stratton trainee has now racked up 34 wins in 196 attempts, netting a profit of $458,438 for owner Howard Jacobs. As the third choice at 2-1 in the betting, he returned $6.80 to win.
TRANSFER REPORT: There were a few transfers to tease players, and one of them performed a monstrous amount of action.
The 20-cent Pick-5 had a carryover of $26,400, motivating players to bet as much as $188,943 in “new money” into the pool, for a total of $215,343. The winner’s odds for the series were 1-2, 28-1, 1-1, 4-5 and 7-5. William Carter guided Dance It Out to victory by long shot in the second race, winning a large number of tickets, but those who did use and cash it received a payout of $1,464.02.
The $1 PK 8 continues and is not hit for the fourth time in a row, increasing the carry to $72,337. A series in which the winner’s odds went to the gate at 1-1, 4-5, 7-5, 6-1, 5-1, 2-1, 12-1 and 3-5 proved too tough for the masses. Those with six correct points collected $63.50.
A LITTLE MORE: Stratton and Big M lead driver Brett Beckwith topped the driver colony charts with two winners each. … The 14-race program total was $3,187,297, marking the second time this year that wagers cleared the $3 million hurdle. … Racing resumes Friday at 6 p.m
For full race results, click here: American trotting results
Through Dave Kleinfor The Meadowlands
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