Europan Union, Cambassador win Matt's Scooter splits

Peter Pan Stables' Europan Union tracked the leader down at the top of the stretch and pulled away to a length-and-three-quarter victory in the first of two $16,000 Matt's Scooter Series divisions Saturday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.

 

Driven by Andy Miller, Europan Union lowered his mark to 1:52.3 as he scored back-to-back wins in the series for 3-year-old colt pacers. Highbeta Blue Chip made an early move to the lead, yielded to Versado at the half and passed the tired leader for second money. Memphis Mobster saved ground the whole way and stoutly closed for third.

 

Europan Union is a homebred son of 2003 Horse of the Year No Pan Intended out of the Matt's Scooter mare Pansatlantic. The colt surpassed $50,000 in earnings as he posted his fifth win in 14 career starts for trainer Erv Miller.

 

Cambassador made an impressive sophomore debut as he closed from the far outside to win the second Matt's Scooter division in a career-best 1:51.3 clocking. With Ron Pierce in tow, Cambassador drew off to a 2 3/4-length tally over the pacesetter Rockin In The House. It was another length back to Eagle Jolt, who angled out of the pocket to challenge Rockin The House on the far turn.

 

Cambassador, a Steve Elliott trainee, notched his third win in eight career starts. The son of Cam's Card-Shark-Absolutely Cam was a $20,000 yearling purchase by Jeff Snyder at the 2008 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pa. Co-owner Robert Unice purchased a share of the gelding on Aug. 26, 2009.

 

Europan Union and Cambassador advanced to the $104,400 (est.) Matt's Scooter final next Saturday, April 24. The race will serve as a stepping stone for both pacers to the $225,000 (est.) Berry's Creek, the first major stakes test of the sophomore season, on Saturday, May 8. Cambassador is also eligible to the track's signature event, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday, July 17. (Meadowlands)