Meadowlands: Holdingallthecards heads Exit 16W winners

Lisa Photo

Holdingallthecards is now 5-for-5 in 2013.

Just hours after the blizzard rolled through East Rutherford, New Jersey, the ramp of Exit 16W was free of snow and clear for traffic and the series named for the New Jersey Turnpike exit got underway Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The first of three divisions was captured by Yo Cheyenne Rocky, who went straight to the lead for Brandon Simpson and never looked back, going down the ‘pike in 1:51 for trainer Robert Siegelman.

Holdingallthecards picked up right where he left off for trainer Scott Di Domenico, grinding his way to a 1:52 4/5 triumph in the second division.  The rags to riches story from the Midwest is now a perfect 5-for-5 on the year at the Meadowlands.

The final division of the Exit 16W saw an electrifying finish as Lindwood Player who trailed the field throughout the mile, unleashed a furious kick to sweep by the field, going from last to first in the final eighth of a mile to score a shocking 45-1 upset for Corey Callahan.  It was a big night for Callahan as he would also add two other victories, tallying three on the card.

The nasty winter weather didn’t slow down the wagering once again at the Meadowlands.  The total handle of $3,473,729 was a twenty nine-percent increase over the same Saturday in 2012.  The increase in handle marked the seventeenth consecutive racing day to start the meet showing an increase in handle from the previous year.

Racing returns on Thursday night for the second rounds of the Charles Singer Memorial and Winter Survivor Series.  Friday will be the first leg of the Junior Trendsetter, which will be re-drawn following this past Friday’s cancellation.  The Final of that series has been moved back one week and is now scheduled for Saturday, March 2nd.  Saturday will feature the second round of the Exit 16W. 

-edited release(Meadowlands)