Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

The Meadowlands Winter Festival, Feb 25-27th

Sunday Afternoon, February 27 at The Big M
Sam Bowie's Boo's Boy tipped out of the pocket at the top of the stretch and surged to a two and three-quarter-length victory in the $77,000 Senior Trendsetter Final, the featured eighth race on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. Hi Ho Silver Star got up for second and Fate's Place, who had cut the fractions, held on for third by three and a half lengths.

"It was just a perfect trip; I couldn't ask for a better journey," said winning driver Jim Morrill Jr. "I was a little concerned, Brian's horse [Brian Sears driving Fate's Place] was laboring, and I didn't know if he was going to have a bad day and not take me far enough. I was just hopening that a cat wouldn't run out in front of me in the stretch. That was the only way I could lose."

Boo's Boy paced the mile in 1:51.3, a stakes record replacing the mark of 1:51.4 set by New Riegel Falcon in 2001. The four-year-old gelded son of Cambest, trained by Richard J. Banca, is owned by former NBA star Sam Bowie of Lexington, Kentucky. It was Boo's Boy's third win in six starts this year and pushed his career bankroll to $65,020.

Saturday Night, February 26th at The Big M
Francam got up in the final strides to win the $71,000 Exit 16W Final, the third race, in a stakes record 1:50.2. The four-year-old gelded son of Cambest completed a sweep of the three-week series, finishing a neck ahead of Shattered Halo. It was three-quarters of a length to Master This in third.

“It was easy,” said Ron Pierce, who guided Francam to his fifth win in seven starts this year. “I popped the earplugs behind the gate, and he took me out of there. He’s a little more relaxed now. He’s a game little fella; he gives you what he has. He seems like he’s fairly sound and has a lot of speed. He should be able to keep going on to the next level.”

The victory pushed Francam’s career earnings to $123,448. The clocking for the mile fell short of Francam’s 1:49.1 but eclipsed the previous stakes record of 1:51 set by Fly Like An Eagle in 2000.

Pat Lachance guided Live Out Loud to a half-length victory in the $78,250 Aquarius Final for four-year-old pacers, the fifth race. The son of Art’s Conquest equaled the stakes record of 1:50.2 set by Die Lute in 2000. It was Live Out Loud’s third straight win, all in legs of the Aquarius. Driven To Win was second best and Skydancer Hanover finished two lengths back in third.

“I didn’t know the horse at all [when he arrived earlier in the month],” said Lachance, who is the trainer and driver. “The rumor was he was no good on the big track; he’s shown different. He likes to be covered up and fires off cover pretty good. I tried to get a good trip and not use him too hard leaving.”

Jenna’s Choice held off the challenge of JJ’s Gazette to win the $95,000 Junior Trendsetter for three-year-olds, the seventh race, by a nose in 1:52, a stakes record performance. Mega Hall was third by three and a half lengths. Jenna’s Choice, driven by Brian Sears and trained by Mark Silva, knocked a second off the previous stakes record of 1:53 set by Four Starzzz King in 2004.

Friday Night, February 25th at The Big M
Mary Sue Too captured the $79,500 Tender Loving Care Final in 1:53.3, with driver Ron Pierce at the lines. It was the fourth win of 2005 in five tries for the sophomore daughter of Western Hanover, who is trained by Noel Daley. The time was a new stakes record, as Alexa Hall (Jim Morrill Jr) was second and Vampires Luv Blood (George Brennan) was third.

Feathery Fame and driver David Miller scored a hugh upset (55-1) to win the $91,600 Cape & Cutter Final in a stakes record time of 1:51. The five-year-old daughter of Apaches Fame paid $113 to win.

"We were poised for an upset tonight," owner Darryl Gombert. "I was really confident coming into tonight's race, and thought our horse had a big chance."

Odds On Charmaine raced gamely to finish second by a nose for driver Pat Lachance, who nipped out Artbitration (Pat Berry) for the show honors. Fractions for the one mile test were: :27.2, :55.3, and 1:23.1.