Women Driver Scores Big; Thursday Racing Returns to the Meadowlands

For those who think women can't be good drivers, let me introduce you to Australian Natalie Rasmussen who this past week in New Zealand won $410,000 by completing a double; winning two stakes races on the same card.  As I have been arguing for a long while, a woman given the opportunity to race good horse flesh can be as successful as any male driver; it's just they never get the opportunity.  It puzzles me how Down Under women get their chances yet we seem not to offer the same chances.


With the calendar turning to 2014, Thursday racing returns to the Meadowlands for January thru Mid March when the Eastern PA tracks resume racing. Since there is limited harness action on January 1, let's take a look at the inaugural card for the 2014 meet which s tarts the Super Bowl late closing series for 3 and 4yos that are NW2 or $30,000 lifetime as of December 15, 2013.  The expansion to three days a week also brings us the first $12,500 claiming races since the new grandstand opened; this with Yonkers closed.  Is $12,500 the floor of claiming ranks this winter or do we see the floor drop lower?

Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment - January 2, 2014

1st Trot $9,500; Claiming $15,000
  6 - Most Wanted Lindy (Gale, 8-1)
  1 - Worth The Money AS (D. Miller, 8-5)
  4 -  PT's Boomerang (Gingras, 7-2)

2nd Pace - $8,500; Claiming $12,500
  6 -  Dutch Richman (Manzi, 15-1)
  1 - Windsong Gorgeous (A. Miller, 6-5)
  2 - Waywatcher (Abbatiello, 4-1)

3rd Trot - $12,500; Super Bowl Late Closer - 1st Leg
  5 - Time To Quit (Gingras, 6-5)
  7 - Cajole Hanover (D. Miller, 5-1)
  4 - Deacons Valley (Manzi, 6-1)

4th Pace - $9,000; C-2 Horses & Geldings
  3 - Ittakeswobaby (M. Miller, 4-1)
10 - Jin Dandy (Marohn, 30-1)
  1 - Messenger's Legacy (Zeron, 15-1)
  4 - You Bet Your Glass (D. Miller, 8-1)

5th Pace - $9,000; C-2 Horses & Geldings
  6 - Taylorlane Cruiser (Manzi, 8-1)
  1 - Buckeye In Charge (Pollio, 5-2)
  3 - Dana's Sharp Smart (Marohn, 9-2)
  4 - Relentless Dreamer (D. Miller, 7-2)

6th Trot - $12,500; Super Bowl Late Closer - 1st Leg
  5 - Home Turf (Campbell, 7-2)
  4 - Sixteen Mikes (Simons, 8-1)
  8 - Appropriate Attire (M. Miller, 3-1)
  2 - Cocotier (Gingras, 2-1)

7th Pace - $8,500; Claiming $12,500
10 - Must Be The Bunny (A Miller, 3-1)
  9 - Instant Thrill (Bongiorno, 15-1)
  6 - C Major Hanover (M. Miller, 12-1)

8th Pace- $9,500; Claiming $15,000
  1 - Black Hat (A. Miller, 5-2)
  8 - Clubber Lang (D. Miller, 4-1)
  4 - Cannae Sonny (Campbell, 6-1)
  3 - Grab A Crab (Berry, 12-1)

9th Trot - $9,500; Claiming $15,000
  1 - Abundasass (Campbell, 12-1)
  9 - Celtic Merchant (A. Miller, 3-1)
10 - Kilted Pride (Manzi, 15-1)
  6 - Four Starz Credit (Bongiorno, 7-2)

10th Pace - $9,000; C-2 Horses & Geldings
  1 - Coral Snake (Berry, 10-1)
  9 -Roo Roo Rusty (Panteleano, 12-1)
  6 - Whirl Monroe (A. Miller, 12-1)
  4 -  Come On Ridge (M. Miller, 8-1)

11th Trot - $12,500; Super Bowl Late Closer - 1st Leg
  2 -  Donatella Hanover (D. Miller, 8-5)
  6 - You Rock My World (Gingras, 3-1)
  8 - Zoli (A. Miller, 5-1)
  3 - Fitness Craze (Bongiorno, 15-1)

12th Trot - $12,500; Super Bowl Late Closer - 1st Leg
  2 -  Ray Hall (D Miller, 2-1)
  7 - Hobsons Choice (Gingras, 5-2)
  8 - Tamasin Hall (A Miller, 6-1)
  4 - Repeat Your ABC's (M. Miller, 8-1)

13th Pace - $9,000; C-2 Fillies & Mares
  3 - Angel Of The West (Panteleano, 3-1)
  5 - Dream's Bar (D Miller, 2-1)
  1 - Special Kim (Gingras, 6-1)
  2- Sunshine Patriot (Bongiorno, 4-1)