Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Classic Series Contested Saturday Night

May 5, 2007

Five divisions of the Classic Series for older horses were featured on the Saturday night card at the Meadowlands.

When Peaceful Way made a late miscue, Buck I St Pat was there to pick up the pieces and the victory in the $60,000 Trotting Oaks. Driven by Brian Sears and trained by Mickey Burke, Buck I St Pat trotted to a career best 1:52.4 as she picked up her second Classic Series win. Up Front Hotsey was three and a half lengths behind in second, while Mystical Sunshine was third.

Peaceful Way led the field through fractions of :27.4, :55 and 1:23.1 before breaking stride.

"Peaceful Way looks like she was a handful behind the gate and Trevor [Ritchie] had to leave with her," Sears said. "It set up some pretty good numbers for me. My filly, if she didn't have any road trouble, was going to be tough to beat. I am really impressed with her."

Sears was back in the winner's circle with Lis Mara, who muscled his way to an uncontested 1:49 victory in the $85,000 Pacing Classic. The 2006 Older Pacer of the Year notched his second win of the season and the 20th of his career. He captured his 2007 debut in 1:48.2.

Boulder Creek held his ground for second, while JK CU Later closed along the pylons to finish third. Artistic Fella, the 2006 Meadowland Pace champion, finished fourth.

"He has gotten a little bigger, a littler stronger and a little more mature," Sears said of Lis Mara. "He seems a little smarter and a little handier than he was last year."

Owners MJG Racing Stables [Mike Gulotta, James Hess, John Jarka and Otis Ray] and Louis Willinger have pledged a percentage of Lis Mara's earnings this season to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, which places retired racehorses in adoptive homes.

"We are trying to do good for others with Lis Mara," said Gulotta. "We are in the owners percentage program for the Standard bred Retirement Foundation, Horses Helping Horses. We are pledging a percentage of Lis Mara's earnings for the entire year to the Standardbred Retirement Foundation. They have already placed 2,000 horses in new homes, horses that can't race anymore. We are thrilled to help."

Susie's Magic romped to a 1:52.4 in the $60,000 Trotting Oaks for driver David Miller and trainer Tony O'Sullivan. Passionate Glide, the 2006 Three-Old Filly Trotter of the Year, closed from the back of the pack to finish second in her 2007 debut, while Queen Serene completed the trifecta. Owned by Linda and Lee DeVisser and William Jones, Susie's Magic recorded her second win in four starts this season. As a three-year-old in 2006, she hit the board in 12 of 16 starts and counted the Breeders Crown among her victories.

"She is a little bit of an anxious mare," David Miller said of Susie's Magic. "I've choked her before in the past, so I learned not to really fight with her. If I can sit her for a little while, she really likes her cover. She is best that way and if I can sit her in for a little while she can carry it from there. She was good and strong through the whole stretch. I looked up on the screen halfway through the stretch, thinking Passionate Glide would be coming. She was, but we had enough ground on her."

Brian Sears completed the Classic Series hat trick with Donato Poliseno's Man About Town in the $85,000 Trotting Classic. The Mark Silva trainee trotted to a length and three-quarter victory over the leg weary pacesetter Med Vac in 1:53.3. JM Vangogh was third.

Man About Town improved his record to two wins in four starts this season.

"This colt showed a lot of talent last year," Sears said. "We have been pretty patient with him. We knew he had some ability. I couldn't ask for a better trip. They mixed it up good on the front. The horses up close were getting used. I got a second over trip halfway down the lane and he fired home good from there."

The biggest upset of the night belonged to To Helen Back who lit up the tote board at 22-1 in the $85,000 Classic Distaff with Yannick Gingras in the sulky. Marnie Hall made a three-wide rally to finish second, while Moving Pictures faded to third after a first-over bid.

"I asked Jason [trainer Jason Libby] before the race if she could leave, and he said that she could if I get up front and in the inside," Gingras said. "She does not need the front. She can smoke out of there and after that, she was two fingers to drive. Once she shook loose in the inside, she exploded home. She did it pretty easy. I did not have to get after her too much."

To Helen Back gave Dorchester, Ontario-based trainer Jason Libby the first Meadowlands victory of his career while improving her record to 12 wins in 28 career starts. She is owned by Mike Shunock of Toronto.