Holiday Road narrowly takes Dickerson Cup

Holiday Road sparkled in his 3-year-old debut with a hard-fought victory over Muscle Massive in the $80,900 Dickerson Cup Friday night at Meadowlands Racetrack.

 

Holiday Road sat third in the early part of the mile as Muscle Massive and Pilgrims Chuckie each took turns at the controls. Holiday Road came first up to seize command mid-way down the backstretch and was quickly met with the challenge of Muscle Massive to his outside. The two colts matched strides through the lane, but Holiday Road simply would not fold, holding on to win by a head in a career best 1:52.4. Temple Of Doom was two lengths behind them in third.

 

“There’s nothing like a race under the belt,” Sears said. “He was a little excited early. He’s excited to be out here racing again. I moved him to the front and he raced really well. It was a really game effort and I’m very happy with him. Muscle Massive had every right to go by him, considering it was his first start [of the season], but my horse fought back. It was a big first for him.”

 

Holiday Road is campaigned by the connections of 2009 Hambletonian champion and Horse of the Year Muscle Hill: driver Brian Sears, trainer Greg Peck and owners Jerry Silva and Thomas and Louis Pontone [TLP Stable]. Mike Gulotta's Deo Volente Farm purchased an interest in the colt in March, while Arthur Pronti and Patricia Bolte’s Four Friends Racing Stable completes the ownership group. Holiday Road earned $312,350 and won three of six starts last season, including a 1:54 stakes record in the Peter Haughton Memorial. The son of Yankee Glide-Jambo is a full brother to Ken Warkentin, the 2004 2-year-old Trotting Colt of the Year (named for the Meadowlands’ track announcer).

 

“Tonight, he showed a new dimension,” said trainer Greg Peck. “He’s never gotten into a horse race like that in his life. He had three qualifiers, but he’s been off a long time, so tonight’s win feels good.”

 

Holiday Road, Muscle Massive and Temple Of Doom are all eligible to harness racing’s greatest prize, the $1.5 million Hambletonian on Saturday, August 7.

 

The Dickerson Cup was one of four Historic Week stakes contested Friday night. JK Sure I Can made a bid on the final turn and held off Best Boss to win the $77,700 Ladyship Stake, the evening’s opener for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Driven by Yannick Gingras, JK Sure I Can was clocked in a career best 1:52. Linda Toscano trains the blue-blooded daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Sure Sign for Blue Chip Bloodstock and 3 Brothers Stables. JK Sure I Can has now won two of 15 career starts and $157,304.

 

“It actually couldn’t have worked out any better,” Gingras said. “They got out of there [quickly at the start] and there was a little action through the middle half. I got to squeeze out around the last turn and couldn’t have asked for anything better. She’s a lazy mare. You have to make her do the work. She doesn’t want to do it on her own, so I had to get after her pretty good down the stretch and she put her nose up front.”

 

“She had a great trip,” Toscano noted. “I was thrilled when I saw the short field because she’s got a lot of ability, but her attitude is a touch questionable at times. She doesn’t always want to pass horses. I scoped her last week and there were a couple of flecks of blood and I thought I’d try her on Lasix. I loved the way she trained on it this week and this was her first race on it. I actually don’t know whether to blame it on the trip or the Lasix, but either way, she went forward in the stretch. I’ve just always believed that she could go with the good horses so it was great to give her a shot.”

 

In The Mean Time nosed out Glide Power for the lion’s share of the purse in the $72,400 Coaching Club Oaks for 3-year-old filly trotters. The pacesetter Springtime Volo finished a half-length behind them in third. In The Mean Time, driven by David Miller and trained by Chuck Sylvester, is perfect in two starts this season. Herb Liverman and David McDuffee own the daughter of Muscles Yankee-Soutaine Hanover.

 

“I was trying to get some cover, but it didn’t work out,” Miller said. “She raced really game first over. In the stretch I wasn’t sure she was going to get there, but then at the wire I knew she had it. She kept fighting right to the end.”

 

A pair of Debutante stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies also shared the marquee. Belle Amore Stable’s Ace Of Pace coasted to a 1:53.1 victory in the $37,900 first division with George Brennan at the lines. Mark Ford trains the daughter of Cam’s Card Shark-Whatsupcuz.

 

“My filly raced really, really well,” Brennan said. “I was trying to leave with her a little bit [out of the starting gate]. When I saw there were too many that left, I took back and she was caught in all kinds of traffic. She must have gained about four or five lengths in the stretch and I was very happy with her. She raced really well for the first time and I see a lot of potential in her.”

 

My Girl’s A Star (Art Major-Ifuwantitcumngetit) paced to a well-rated 1:54.2 victory in the $37,400 second division for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Ray Schnittker and owner-breeder Mathias Meinzinger. (Meadowlands)