Cape & Cutter kicks off weekend stakes action

Four winter series draw to a close this weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack, beginning with the $80,000 Cape & Cutter for older pacing mares on Friday night.

Native Bride, the 6-5 morning line favorite, looks to avenge a narrow loss to Chancey Lady in last week’s second round of the series. She will start from post five with her regular partner, Brian Sears, in the sulky. The 5-year-old mare has won four of six starts this season, including a 1:50.2 sparkler in the first Cape & Cutter leg. Lou Pena trains the daughter of Allamerican Native for Sears’ father, Jay, and TH Stable. Pena will also send out Flirtiscape, rated 10-1 from post four.

The field for the Cape & Cutter, from the rail out:

Horse (Driver-Trainer)--Odds

1--Ramona Disomma (G. Brennan-J. Hartline)--5-1

2--Native Hotspur (R. Pierce-N. Willis)--15-1

3--Chancey Lady (J. Campbell- M. Kesmodel)--3-1

4, Flirtiscape (D. Miller- L. Pena)--10-1

5--Native Bride (B. Sears-L. Pena)--6-5

6--BC's Jesse (Y. Gingras-K. Harrison)--15-1

7--Ginger And Fred (T. Tetrick-R. Burke)--4-1

 

The action continues Saturday night with the $88,000 Exit 16 W, $80,000 Aquarius and $76,500 Junior Trendsetter. In the most contentious of the three finals, Clyde Hirt Series champ Real Joke looks to rebound from a rare miscue last out in the Exit 16 W for conditioned pacers. Campaigned by Andy and Julie Miller, the 4-year-old gelding will face stiff competition from In Over My Head, two-for-two in preliminary action, Majestic Jackpot, Lisagain, Woodstock Hanover and Complex Series winner Pacinello.

New Video Feature: Woodstock Draws A Crowd

A large crowd will be gathered at the rail when Woodstock Hanover parades down the stretch in the $88,000 Exit 16 W Final on Saturday night.

Co-owner Glenn Ellis, a former waiter at the Meadowlands, talks about what it's like to go from working in the grandstand to standing in the winner's circle with the pacer.

Watch the video on Meadowlands Racetrack’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SruskR8LUmk (Meadowlands)