Meadowlands: Sophomore trotters duel in W.N. Reynolds Memorials
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Three-year-old trotters took another step on the Road to the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks by racing in W.N. Reynolds Memorial divisions on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.
It Could Be Worse (Tim Tetrick) took the lead past the 27 2/5 quarter in the first $33,625 test for the boys, and after middle-half stations of 55 3/5 and 1:23 1/5, he closed in 27 2/5 to win by a length in 1:50 3/5. Southwind Alamo (Johnathan Ahle) closed well from third-over to get second and Nix Nacken (Dexter Dunn), the 1-5 favorite, had to settle for third after a first-over journey out of sixth in the back-half of the mile.
Linda Toscano trains It Could Be Worse, a Captain Corey colt bred by Coyote Wynd Farms, for owners The Bay's Stable LLC., Pat And Mark Huber, Bill Elliott and Camelot Stable Inc. He has three career wins, has earned $202,807 and paid $14.20 to win.
The other $34,125 split for the colts and geldings saw Magic Punk (Yannick Gingras) cut the quarter in 28 4/5 and then yield to sit in the pocket behind favorite Diabolic Hill (Todd McCarthy). Diabolic Hill put the half and three-quarters on the board in 57 seconds and 1:25, but was unable to hold off Magic Punk in the lane, as he angled out and went by to prevail by a length in 1:51 4/5. Southwind Fargo (Ake Svanstedt) was third.
Ake Svanstedt sent out Magic Punk, a colt by Wishing Stone, for owner Magic Punk Inc. Bred by Id Int Trotting And Breeding, he has a summary of 7-3-1 from 12 outings, has pocketed $366,182 and returned $6.40 to win.
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Nezuko Kamado S (Scott Zeron) hit the front beyond the 28 2/5 quarter in the opening $33,225 section for fillies and then got to the half in 57 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25. Jailbird Jog (James MacDonald) attacked first-over out of fifth before the half and advanced to battle with Nezuko Kamado S down the stretch, but Nezuko Kamado S held on by a nose in a 1:52 1/5 effort. Leading Lady (Matt Kakaley) was third from second-over.
By Chapter Seven, Nezuko Kamado S was bred by owner Courant Inc. and is a Marcus Melander trainee. She has nine wins, two seconds and a third from 14 appearances, has banked $718,122 and paid $4.40 to win.
Custom (Jason Bartlett) worked out a second-over trip off a 27 3/5 quarter, 56 1/5 half and 1:24 4/5 three-quarters set first by Sugar Packet (Joe Bongiorno) and then Lainey W (Yannick Gingras) in the other $33,725 filly grouping, then rallied to defeat a game from first-over R Ro (Tyler Buter) by half a length in 1:52 1/5. Lainey W held third.
A Per Engblom-trained daughter of Walner, Custom was bred by Diamond Creek Farm with Order By Stable and is owned by Tlh Racing Inc. She made her sixth trip to the winner's circle, has stashed away $141,682 and returned $3.80 to win as the favorite.