Upset in Classic Distaff

To Helen Back and Yannick Gingras pulled a stunning upset, capturing the second leg of the Classic Distaff at the Meadowlands Saturday night in 1:50 and paying her backers $47.80.

Gingras hustled the 4-year-oldAstreos mare from the outside post eight and had the lead at the opening quarter in :27, before yielding to Miss Galvinator A and Andy Miller, who took the field past the half in :54,4 and the three quarters in 1:23.

In the lane Miss Galvinator A. drifted out from the pylons just enough to allow To Helen Back room to shoot up the inside and steal the victory, turning back the late rally by Marnie Hall, who saw her four-race win streak snapped. Moving Pictures was third.

In the Pacing Classic Lis Mara and Brian Sears grabbed the lead going to the half and was never seriously challenged en route to a 1:49 victory by a length over Boulder Creek and Danie Dube. JK C U Later and Gingras were third.

In the Trotting Classic, Sears brought Man About Town from behind in the stretch  and scored a national season’s record 1:53.3 victory with the 4-year-old Self Possessed gelding. Med Vac, who led from before the half, finished second for Andy Miller, with JM Vangogh and Cat Manzi third.

There were two divisions of the Classic Oaks. In the first Peaceful Way was making her first start of the year and she was a head-strong leader through fractions of :27.4, :55 and 1:23.4. Then she went off stride at the head of lane. Buck I St Pat and Sears swept into the lead early in the stretch and drew off to a 1:52.4 victory, also a season’s record, with Up Front Hotsey and John Campbell closing late to be second and Mystical Sunshine and Ron Pierce third.

In the second division Susie’s Magic and David Miller grabbed the lead before  the :56.1 half, opened four lengths on the field and couldn’t be caught, scoring in 1:52.4. Passionate Glide, last year’s Dan Patch 3-year-old filly trotter of the year, rallied to be second for Pierce in her first start of the year, while Queen Serene, also making her season debut, was third for Trond Smedshammer.

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