Meadowlands: Golden Receiver comes up huge in Presidential final; 2013 handle mark set

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Golden Receiver has won the Presidential final in consecutive years.

If possible Golden Receiver exceeded the expectations placed on him by the public as the 1-5 choice in the $103,500 Presidential final at the Meadowlands. The 8-year-old son of Village Jove overcame a tough trip and posted a record 19th sub-1:50 mile in the process.

Golden Receiver went for the top as usual but was denied his typical spot on the lead by Mr Hasani N. After being forced into the pocket by a sizzling 25 3/5 opening quarter, driver Tim Tetrick made his move to the front before the half in 54 1/5.

“Corey (Callahan-Mr Hasani N) had his horse keyed up to leave and he wouldn’t come back to him,” said Tetrick on being forced into the pocket.

Mr Hasani N made a wild break after yielding and scattered second choice Dial Or Nodial among others. But Dial Or Nodial would recover to challenge Golden Receiver and press the leader through three quarters in 1:22 4/5.

In the stretch many were close but none could get past the dead-game Golden Receiver. He fended off all comers in 1:49 3/5 to become the second horse to win the Presidential final twice in his career (Red Bow Tie).

“This horse is really brave and he fought back,” concluded Tetrick.

Fred And Ginger hugged the cones for second and Dial Or Nodial held third despite the tough trip.

Mark Harder trains Golden Receiver for Our Horse Cents Stables and Nina Simmonds. The gelding now has 53 wins in 125 career races with over $1.7 million in earnings.

Earlier on the card, Windsun Galliano came up big to the tune of a stakes record of 1:53 4/5 in the Super Bowl series for 4-year-old trotters.

There was plenty of action off the gate as the contenders vied for the top share of the $51,000 purse. Where To Hanover secured the front but gave way to a quick brush from Helios and driver Yannick Gingras.

After fractions of 27 and 56 3/5, Helios was in charge and ready for a first over challenge from Wisenheimer, who was being closely track by the parked-the-mile Windsun Galliano.

The pace barely picked up in the third quarter as the trotters battled the wind. Through a 1:25 4/5 clocking, Windsun Galliano tipped wide and began to bear down on his uncoupled stablemate Helios. The latter battled hard but was no match for Windsun Galliano nearing the wire.

Where To Hanover got third and No Less Than Magic shook free late for fourth.

“We worked out a great trip. It couldn’t have worked out any better,” said driver Andy Miller, who went on to talk about the potential future of Windsun Galliano.

“I don’t know if he is ready to step up against the best, but he’s long-winded and can go a long way.”

Both Windsun Galliano and Helios, who are trained by Andy’s wife Julie Miller, are expected to start in the Charles Singer series which begins on February 7 at the Meadowlands.

Also on the stakes program was the $67,400 Clyde Hirt final for 4-year-old pacing horses and geldings.

Ethan Hanover and longshot Man He Can Skoot gunned off the gate and came away one-two past the quick 26 1/5 opening quarter before 4-5 favorite Holdingallthecards made his move to the front.

Once in charge, Holdingallthecards put up a 55 2/5 half and turned away the first over Shaws Creek Buff past three quarters in 1:24. A host of pursuers including Mr Dennis and Cee Pee Panic were in with a chance but Holdingallthecards held sway for driver Tim Tetrick by 1 ¼ lengths at the wire in 1:51 1/5 over the 59-1 Man He Can Skoot.

“I got a good middle half and used my gate speed to make sure I didn’t get locked in,” said Tetrick, who lauded the horse’s speed and smarts.

Holdingalllthecards, who is trained by Scott DiDomenico, is expected to appear next in the Exit 16w series at the Meadowlands.

The Meadowlands smashed last year’s recorded handle of $3,089,435 on Presidential night 2012. Bettors wagered $3,711,378 on the 13-race program, the highest non Meadowlands Pace or Hambletonian Day handle since January 23, 2010.