Meadowlands: Can't Afford It upsets in Hambletonian Eve feature

Ake Svanstedt is certainly hoping Friday night's $50,000 Dennis Drazin for 3-year-old male trotters at the Meadowlands is a sign of things to come with Six Pack in tomorrow's Hambletonian as Svanstedt guided his charge Can't Afford It to a 1:52 4/5 win.

Starting from post eight, Can't Afford It made front passing the 28 second opening quarter, then yielded to Rich And Miserable (Tyler Buter). Rich And Miserable would go on to hit the half in 55 3/5, and then was able to fend off the first-over bid of 2-1 favorite Joey (David Miller) on the final turn.

Rich And Miserable was up by a pair of lengths at the 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, but Svanstedt angled Can't Afford It to the outside in upper stretch, and he would charge by to get the lead. The closers were coming late, but Can't Afford It held on, winning by half a length over For A Dreamer (Corey Callahan). Hockey Hanover (Wilbur Yoder) rushed from ninth to third in the final quarter.

Can't Afford It, a Cantab Hall colt, is owned by Stable Why Not. Can't Afford It, who was stakes-placed last year against the likes of Hambletonian starters Crystal Fashion and Fashionwoodchopper, was making just his second start of the year and his first for Svanstedt. This was his third career win, and he has now earned $85,596. Sent off at 16-1, he paid $35.80 to win.