Meadowlands: Thrilling dead-heat in Valley Victory

There were two winners of the Valley Victory on Saturday night as Dog Gone Lucky and Make Or Miss crossed the wire in tandem in the $489,400 contest for juvenile male trotters at the Meadowlands. Winning drivers Corey Callahan and Joe Bongiorno respectively finished in a dead heat on Friday night and returned to share the winner's circle in the premier stakes event.

Bongiorno, a 22-year-old driver, captured the richest race of his career with Make Or Miss for trainer Ronnie Burke. By Donato Hanover Make Or Miss won for the second time in nine career starts tracking down the pacesetting Dog Gone Lucky in the 1:54 mile.

The favored Dog Gone Lucky made two moves for control after stablemate Waitlifter K cut the opening quarter in :27 flat. Dog Gone Lucky cruised on the front end with rated fractions of :57 and 1:26 and looked like a winner entering the stretch as Callahan called on the Chuck Sylvester-trained colt.

But the stretch went on a little too long for the front runner and Make Or Miss rallied off a third over trip and finished explosively in the :28 final quarter to get the tie on the finish wire.

Milligan School moved between horses late for third with Marion Marauder finishing fourth.

Make Or Miss is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and J & T Silva. Dog Gone Lucky is owned by Amy Lynn Stoltzfus and Charles Stansley.

It was trainer Sylvester's fifth win in the Valley Victory. Bongiorno was ecstatic.

"When he got through the final turn ok I knew he would trot home like he did last week. I can say enough about Ronnie (Burke) and the owners for giving me this opportunity," said Bongiorno.

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