Meadowlands: Newsroom makes headlines in Tompkins-Geers

The bettors at the Meadowlands crushed Newsroom down to 1-2 in the wageringm and the son of Always B Miki-Well Hello There delivered in the Friday night feature, a $34,050 Tompkins-Geers division for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the pace.

"I think he has an opportunity to be special," said winning trainer Joe Holloway. "He's just a nice horse."

Off a 1:53 4/5 baby-race win at Gaitway Farm, Newsroom had the public's confidence in the field where every starter was making their first career appearance in a betting race, and Dave Miller drove him as if he were best by going directly to the top and carving out fractions of 29, 59 and 1:28 1/5.

Mirage Hanover, who sat a four-hole to the half, came alongside with a rush to challenge the leader around the far turn, but Newsroom shrugged that one aside during a final quarter of 25 4/5 to record a half-length win in 1:54. Mirage Hanover held second with Lou's World third in the field of six.

"Dave said he's kind of lazy on the front-end," said Holloway. "So he tried to wake him up during the third quarter. Once he popped the plugs, Newsroom did the rest."

Next week's Kindergarten is next up for Newsroom, who returned $3.00 to win.

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GETTING IN 'GEER': Before the betting card, Grab The Chance S scored in a $33,000 Tompkins-Geers split for 2-year-old fillies on the trot. The daughter of Trixton-Opportunity went the mile in 1:56 4/5 for driver-trainer Ake Svanstedt.

In a $35,325 T-G division for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot, Stormcloudfashion (Walner-Cloud Nine Fashion) reported home first in 1:55 4/5 for trainer Jim Campbell and driver Brett Beckwith.

A LITTLE MORE: Drivers Dominik Miga (That'smytype, $31.80 to win) and Michael Whelan both recorded their first-ever wins at The Big M. Miga did it in a Meadowlands Amateur Driving Club event while Whelan scored in a conditioned race, guiding the Jeff Cullipher-trained Better Take It ($13.80) to a lifetime-best 1:48 3/5 effort. All-source handle topped $3 million for the 40th time in 52 race cards during 2023 after $3,192,296 was pushed through the windows on the 13-race program. Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

--press release (Meadowlands)--