Upsets in Jersey Girls, Unger finals

Andy Miller made it four wins in a row as he steered Four Starz Molly to a 60-1 upset in the $65,800 Jersey Girls final for filly and mare pacers Friday night at the Meadowlands. Miller moved Four Starz Molly three wide on the turn and she rallied to a length-and-a-half victory over Harper Lee in 1:52. Laughandbehappy held third after carving the early fractions. Four Starz Molly, trained by George Teague Jr., paid $129.60.

 

“I thought she had a shot tonight,” Miller said. “Two weeks ago, I maybe over-raced her a little bit (in the first Jersey Girls leg). She put in a big effort and it was still close at the wire. I thought if I could give her a good trip, she’d have a good shot. I was third-over, and the horse that was second-over (Dream’s Bar) was kind of gapping, but I was close enough.” 

 

Four Starz Molly, a 4-year-old daughter of Four Starzzzz Shark-Bolero Tam Tam, has now banked $112,126 for breeder-owner Four Starzzzz Stable of Hauppauge, N.Y.

 

In the final stakes race of the night, Bet The Town and driver Brian Sears rallied off a three-hole trip to win the $54,000 Art Unger final in 1:52. Eragon finished second after tussling early with He’s Redhot, while Allamerican Chief grabbed the show spot. Bet The Town returned a $13 win mutuel.

 

“He’s pretty handy,” Sears said. “He’s got a bit of gate speed and if the trip works out, he’s going to give you a good run at the end. That’s exactly what he did.”

 

Ray Schnittker trains the 4-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight-Town Sweetheart for Bet The Town Stable of Middletown, N.Y. The gelding has now won seven of 21 career starts and $109,343. (Meadowlands)