Professional, easy-going, strong, willing trainers Nick Gallucci and John Pentland called on similar adjectives Friday night to describe their two-year-old pacing colt Gold Series winners Betterhavemymoney and Stonebridge Helios.
The pacers took very different trips around the Woodbine Mohawk Park oval to get to the winner’s circle, but they tripped the teletimer in identical 1:51.4 clockings and both looked impressive in the effort.
Starting from Post 6 in the first $103,800 division, Betterhavemymoney and driver James MacDonald spent most of the mile in the outer lane, had to dodge a breaking Coligny Hanover in the final turn, and laid down a :26.3 last quarter to earn their victory. Kolby Two Step, who did much of the work on the front end, finished one length behind the favourites in second and Erinwood Yves also closed like a rocket to be third.
Jujubee made a shambles of the field Wednesday (May 5) at The Meadows, drawing off to win the feature, a $10,100 Conditioned Trot, by four lengths for his seventh victory in 11 starts.
Jujubee entered the race off a win in the championship of a late-closing series and was hammered down to 3-5 as a result. The three-year-old son of Creatine-La Cantera lived to the billing, moving to the point before the half for Tony Hall and scoring in a career-best 1:54.2 over a “good” surface. Early-leader Walkingintherain and longshot Aunt Bee completed the ticket.
Greg Wright, Jr. trains Jujubee for Jon Erdner.
Trainer Dirk Simpson and Hall each enjoyed a double on the 13-race card.
She had to overcome 23-1 odds and finesse her way around a breaking horse, but Best Derby Native was up to the task, notching her second straight series win and third consecutive victory overall in Wednesday’s (March 10) Donna Dunn Memorial Pace at The Meadows.
Filly Speaks captured the other $10,000 second-leg split in the event for three- and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares. The $15,000-added series final is set for next Wednesday (March 17).
Best Derby Native was enjoying a pocket trip behind 3-5 favourite Keep Watching when that one jumped it off near the three-quarters. Aaron Merriman was able to check Best Derby Native, clear the breaker, and preserve his rail position. The four-year-old daughter of Allamerican Native and Best Suntan brushed through the lane and scored in a career best 1.54.2, a length better than Twin B Chit Chat. Sparklinlikeitis finished third.
Chris Gooden Photo
Trenton, NJ It all started as a joke. After it turned serious, harness racing John “The Greek” Sikaras is still sporting one of the biggest grins in western Pennsylvania. As well he should.
Sikaras recorded his first driving win Nov. 27 in an $8,500 Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association event at The Meadows. The fact his horse, Explosive Leggs, went off at 23-1 is pretty neat in its own right. Throw in the fact that Sikaras turned 70 on June 12, and you’ve got a Pittsburgh area feel-good story that ranks right up there with the invention of the famed Primanti Brothers sandwich.