Meadowlands: Graduate Series for pacers continues with three splits

Bettor's Wish was driven confidently by Dexter Dunn and scored a decisive victory as the heavy favorite in the final of three $50,000 divisions of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers at the Meadowlands on Saturday night.

Bettor's Wish was kept off the early activity as Best In Show and Aflame Hanover exchanged the lead through a quarter in 26 2/5 and half in 54 3/5, with Best In Show and Brian Sears leading the field. Dunn pulled Bettor's Wish at the half and waited for the cover of De Los Cielos Deo to materialize, but that horse stalled on the turn, forcing Dunn to put Bettor's Wish in motion three-wide. Acceleration was instant as he lost rival Workin Ona Mystery in a split second and devoured Best In Show in mid-stretch on his way to an easy 1:48 2/5 victory. Workin Ona Mystery would rally for place, with Aflame Hanover holding third in the stretch.

Chris Ryder trains and shares ownership of the winner with Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and Bettor's Wish Partners. Bettor's Wish returned $2.40 to win.

In the first $50,000 Graduate division Brassy Hanover and Scott Zeron marched up without cover on a well-rated 6-5 favorite Hurrikane Emperor and swept right on by in the stretch to win convincingly in a 1:48 1/5 career-best clocking. Shamwow followed the winner's cover home for second, with the pacesetter third in the field.

Hurrikane Emperor and Mark MacDonald took command past the quarter in 26 3/5 ahead of the second-choice Warrawee Ubeaut. Fractions of 54 3/5 and 1:22 3/5 appeared in the favorite's favor, but he proved no match for the Jeff Cullipher-trained Brassy Hanover in the stretch.

Following a third-place finish in the first Graduate leg at Tioga, Brassy Hanover scored as a $22.60 win payout. Cullipher shares ownership of the victorious son of Well Said with Pollack Racing LLC.

Driver Tim Tetrick followed third-over cover with Bllack Hole and then launched the son of Mr. Apples in the stretch, winning the second Graduate division in 1:48 as a 12-1 shot.

Dancin Lou was the odds-on choice in this division and Brian Sears put him on top at the 26 1/5 opening quarter and appeared on his way to stroll around the track. Dave Miller, behind Century Farroh, sensed the very slow (28 4/5) second quarter and hustled his horse to the top shortly after the 55 second half-mile clocking. Century Farroh shook off a bitter first-over challenge from Rockie Got Framed through a 1:22 three-quarters and held firmly but couldn't withstand the relentless bid of Bllack Hole, who vaulted off cover to the victory and picked up a new lifetime mark. Century Farroh held second and favored Dancin Lou salvaged third after getting full clearance in mid-stretch. Angers Bayama was pacing out of his skin with only full clearance late and finished fourth.

Scott DiDomenico trains Bllack Hole, a luckless third in the Tioga leg, for L & L Stables. Bllack Hole returned $26.20 to win.