Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

From The Meadowlands

For the week of March 23-26, 2005

Friday Night, March 25
Loyal Opposition romped to a new stakes record of 1:49.4 in the $122,500 Overbid Final for free for all pacing mares, giving her a complete sweep of the series. The five-year-old daughter of Cole Muffler pulled first over just past the :26.4 first quarter and paced away from the field through fractions of :54.2 and 1:22.2, and just cruised home for driver George Brennan. The previous stakes record of 1:51 flat was shared by Sanabelle Island [2000], Yes Its True [2002] and Carolina Sunshine [2004].

"I didn't use her that much leaving, and she raced super tonight," Brennan said. "She really felt good tonight, and those previous races just were good tighteners for her. Erv and his crew do a great job with her. This mare ranks right up there with Galleria, she's a great mare."

Loyal Opposition is now just $7,000 short of $2 million in lifetime earnings, setting her as the third richest pacing mare in harness racing history. Trained by Erv Miller, Loyal Opposition is owned by Daniel Waxman of Ancaster, Ontario. She's My Belle finished second for Ron Pierce, while Carolina Sunshine got up for third with Brian Sears.

In the seventh race, the co-featured $104,450 Matt's Scooter Final, Jenna's Choice surged off a three-wide move on the turn for home to score a three and a quarter length victory over 2-1 favorite Gryffindor. You Tell Gordy was third by seven and a half lengths. Jenna's Choice, driven by Brian Sears, paced the mile in 1:50.1, a stakes record, chipping four-fifths of a second off the previous mark of 1:51 set by Four Starzzz King in 2004.

Jenna's Choice, a three-year-old gelded son of Jenna's Beach Boy, claimed his second straight series title. He won the $95,000 Junior Trendsetter Final on February 26 at the Meadowlands with a front-end trip.

"He was really fired up that night, but tonight we looked for a trip," said Sears. "We had dull cover, but the horse responded well and it turned out okay. He was real good, and I let him drift [in the final turn]. He's versatile as long as he behaves."

Breaks in stride have marred the pacer's career but he now has three wins in 10 starts this year and six in 21 lifetime for a career bankroll of $104,450. He was purchased this year by his trainer, Mark Silva of Little Ferry, New Jersey; Clifford Pattick of Montvale, New Jersey and Daniel Borgo of Randolph, New Jersey. He is eligible to the Suslow Series and the Berry's Creek this spring.

Wednesday Night, March 23
Driver Daniel Dube swept both $20,000 divisions of the second round of the Jersey Girls Series Wednesday night at the Meadowlands. Dube reached the winner's circle with Gorgeous Lover in the first division, and with Follow Your Bliss in the third race, the second division. The top 10 money earners in the preliminary rounds advance to the $60,000 Jersey Girls Final on March 30.

Gorgeous Lover took the lead at the quarter and held off 1-5 favorite Queen OTRA for a length and a quarter victory in 1:54.2 on a track rated sloppy. Park It Ashley was third.
It was Gorgeous Lover's second win in 10 starts this year. The four-year-old daughter of Real Artist is trained by Mark Harder and owned by Heather B. Ronay of Rochelle Park, New Jersey.

Follow Your Bliss won her second straight Jersey Girls prelim in 1:54.2, skimming the pylons to catch Theresa Hall for a length and a quarter victory. Queen Of The Ball was third by three lengths. A four-year-old daughter of Blissfull Hall, Follow Your Bliss now has four wins and four seconds in eight starts this year. Trained by Mark Silva, she races for the Alberta-based partnership of Serge Masse and Joseph Lin.