Marathon 30-race qualifying day at Big M

The Meadowlands was the site of a 30-race qualifying extravaganza Tuesday, with the marathon session that began at 10 a.m. taking slightly over five hours to complete. In all, 272 horses lined up behind the starting gate. Tim Tetrick directed MM’s A Player to a 2:00.1 victory in the first race for 2 –and 3-year-old filly trotters and 29 races later it was the Richard Silverman-driven Blatantly good wrapping up the day with a 1:55.1 victory. 

Among those winning on Tuesday as the Big M prepares to open its 2010 racing season on Friday, Jan. 1, was Four Leaf Clover and Aquarius finals winner Southwestern Dream, who scored in 1:54 for driver John Campbell and trainer Bruce Saunders. The 6-year-old trotter Likeabatoutahell, an early-season force at the Meadowlands who hasn’t raced since late July, also won his qualifier in 1:57.4 for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer. 

Handsome Harry, a 15-time winner in 2009, including several New York Sire Stakes events, and an earner of more than $300,000, won his qualifier in 1:54. George Brennan was in the sulky behind the 3-year-old son of Dream Away for trainer Mark Ford. 

The 2008 Berry’s Creek winner Blueridge Western, who went over the $1-million mark in career earnings earlier this year, had to settle for a third-place finish in his qualifier, behind Thanks For Stoppin and Northern McArdler in a 1:57.2 mile. Thanks For Stoppin is a 4-year-old son of Real Artist driven by Campbell for trainer Ed Lohmeyer. 

Allamerican Idol scored a 1:55 victory for trainer Tom Fanning and driver Brian Sears, with the Brennan-driven DM Sundance second. Allamerican Idol, a 5-year-old son of Pro Bono Best, won the Complex Series final at the Meadowlands last January. 

The $800,000-winner Western Shore was successful in his qualifier, scoring in 1:51.2 for driver Brennan and trainer Tom Cancelliere. The mile earned speed-badge honors for the 6-year-old son of Western Hanover. 

Search Engine scored a 1:55.1 qualifying victory over Martha Maxine and Lookout Hanover. The 5-year-old son of Electric Yankee was driven by Sears for trainer Ron Burke as he defeated Martha Maxine, who formerly raced as a mare but after being determined midway through 2009 was declared genetically a male, and standout 4-year-old Lookout Hanover. 

The last race went off at 2:54 p.m. and it was Blatantly Good and Silverman who crossed the wire first. Finishing second was the rugged performer Noble Falcon, with 2009 Presidential Series winner Winbak Speed having to settle for fourth.

« Back