Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

This Week at The Meadowlands...

For the week of April 20-24, 2005

Sunday Afternoon
Hurri Kane Billy G capitalized on a pocket trip and drew off to a three-length victory in the second race, the first of two $20,000 Father Foley Series divisions, on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. Driven by Daniel Dube and trained by John McDermott, Hurri Kane Billy G trotted the mile in 1:55.2. CR Kinetic could not sustain a first-over bid and finished second, while Chucaro Ahijuna rallied from sixth at the top of the stretch for third.

A four-year-old son of Donerail, Hurri Kane Billy G improved his 2005 record to three wins, three seconds and two thirds in 11 starts this season. He is now just $171 shy of $100,000 in career earnings for the owner partnership of McDermott, Two H's Farm of Jupiter, Florida, and Anthony Lombardi Jr. of Fairfield, New Jersey.

Durgin Hanover, an 18-1 longshot, upset the field with a length victory in the second Father Foley division, the afternoon's third race. With David Miller in the sulky, Durgin Hanover sat behind ENS Snapshot and soared past him in the stretch for his third win of the season. Trained by Rodney Bolon, the four-year-old Lindy Lane gelding trotted the mile in a lifetime best 1:54. Bolon and his wife, Sally, of Washington, Pennsylvania, share ownership of Durgin Hanover with James Snyder of Wooster, Ohio. Dink Adoo, the 4-5 favorite, made a three-wide move on the final turn and finished a length and three-quarters back in third. The Father Foley Series concludes next Sunday with a $51,780 final.

Saturday Night
Canyon Wind made it three in-a-row when he emerged the winner of a tight photo finish over Boulder Creek in the featured $42,500 open pace on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Canyon Wind cleared the lead from Eaton Road Kill past the opening quarter and took the field through middle fractions of 54.2 and 1:22.3, while a game Boulder Creek had to grind out a first-over trip. The two horses matched strides in deep stretch, but it was the tenacious Canyon Wind, driven by David Miller, who prevailed by nose in 1:50.1.

It was three-quarters of a length back to Eaton Road Kill who made a late bid along the rail. Trained by Steve Elliott, Canyon Wind improved his 2005 record to five wins in 12 starts. The five-year-old son of Cambest has banked $434,306 lifetime for Schoor-Racing Stable of Colts Neck, New Jersey and Val D’Or Farms of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

Friday Night
Jenna's Choice completed a Winter Series hat trick with a length and a quarter victory in the $70,790 Robert J. Suslow Final in a stakes record 1:50.3 on Friday night at the Meadowlands. The three-year-old pacer had already annexed the $95,000 Junior Trendsetter Final on February 26 and the $104,450 Matt's Scooter Final on March 25 and has a record of five wins and two seconds in 13 starts this year for earnings of $166,465.

Jenna's Choice sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the third race, put away the challenge of Gryffindor with a 26.3 final quarter for a mile in 1:50.3, supplanting the stakes record of 1:51.1 shared by Key Western [2003] and Brandon's Cowboy [2004]. Mega Hall was third by five lengths.

Driven by Brian Sears and trained by Mark Silva, Jenna's Choice races for the partnership of Silva, Clifford Pattick of Montvale, New Jersey and Pattick's cousin, Daniel Borgo of Randolph, New Jersey.

Jenna's Choice is being pointed toward the $250,000 estimated Berry's Creek on May 7 at the Meadowlands with eliminations on April 30.

Thursday Night
Shu Hanover coasted to his fourth straight win and completed a series sweep with a mile in 1:49 in the $46,285 Fox Sports Net Final, the fifth race on Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by David Miller, Shu Hanover sprinted to the lead before the half with a 26.3 quarter and tossed in a matching 26.3 final quarter for three and a quarter length victory over Whodunit.

The 1:49 mile was a career best and a stakes record, eclipsing the 1:50.1 mark shared by Carlspur [2000] and Art Maker [2003]. The four-year-old gelded son of Arturo--Shrewd Lady, picked up his seventh win in 13 and pushed his seasonal earnings to $107,242. Lifetime, Shu Hanover has 24 wins, 11 seconds and three thirds from 57 starts and a career bankroll of $165,364.

Wednesday Night
Ideal News completed her series sweep in the $64,850 Blossom Final, the third race on Wednesday night at the Meadowlands. Ideal News paced the mile in a stakes record and lifetime best of 1:52, winning by a head over I'm All In. It was four and a half lengths back to Righteous Renee in third.

Righteous Renee, with I'm All In drafting behind her, cut the early fractions of 26.1, 54 and 1:22.4, separating from the rest of the three-year-old pacing fillies by more than six lengths. In the homestretch, however, Ideal News caught the tiring leaders for her third win in four starts this year. Driven by John Campbell and trained by Joe Holloway, Ideal News eclipsed the previous stakes record of 1:53.2 set by Magical Pride in 1999.

Ideal News, a daughter of Western Ideal, improved her lifetime record to three wins, two seconds and two thirds from nine starts and earnings of $62,409 for Brittany Farms of Versailles, Kentucky and Val D'Or Farms of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

And Also...
Unbeaten Four Starz Sisco turned in his fourth straight victory in his final tune-up for the April 30 elimination races for the Berry's Creek Pace. Unraced at two, Four Starz Sisco captured the first race on Wednesday night in a lifetime best of 1:50.2. The gelded son of The Panderosa is trained by Dave Sabatelli, and races for the Four Starzzzz Stable LLC of Glenwood, New Jersey.