• REMINDERS

    2025 RACE DATES

    MEADOWLANDS

    Post Time 6:20


    January 3rd - February 13th

    Friday & Saturday


    August 2nd Speacial Post Time Noon


    October 24th - December 27th

    Friday & Saturday

  • REMINDERS

    2025 RACE DATES

    MEADOWLANDS

    Post Time 6:20


    January 3rd - February 13th

    Friday & Saturday


    August 2nd Speacial Post Time Noon


    October 24th - December 27th

    Friday & Saturday

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

AMERICAN CLASSIC SPEEDS CLEAR IN BIG M FEATURE

Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations • October 21, 2023

American Classic has been an all-or-nothing type of horse of late, but brought his speed show to The Meadowlands and used that high octane to easily win the Saturday night feature, an $18,000 high-end conditioned pace ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- October 21, 2023 -- American Classic has been an all-or-nothing type of horse of late, but brought his speed show to The Meadowlands and used that high octane to easily win the Saturday night feature, an $18,000 high-end conditioned pace.


Coming into the race, he showed two wins in his last four starts, with both victories – one at Yonkers Raceway and the other at Harrah’s Philadelphia – coming after the 4-year-old gelded son of American Ideal-Tori Hanover opened up a big early lead before maintaining a solid edge all the way to the wire. He finished seventh and eighth in the other two tries after not leaving the gate.


His driver knew what he had to do.


“I looked at the program and I saw the speed was there,” said Joe Bongiorno. “I just thought tonight was a good night to put him on the front. He was very grabby, so I didn’t have any other option. That was the stable’s first start with him. Behind the gate, he wanted to run through it.”


There was a scrum to the quarter, with Three In Heaven A (Daryl Thiessen) at the rail, American Classic alongside, and Stonebridge Reef (Patrick Ryder) three-wide vying for the top in :28.1, before American Classic emerged with the lead at the three-eighths.


American Classic then hit the half in :56 while extending his edge to a length-and-a-half and three-quarters in 1:23.2 sprinting clear by 4½, before hitting the wire 2 lengths in front of 9-5 favorite Stone Hanover (Corey Callahan), who was closing well after encountering traffic trouble. Stonebridge Reef finished third. The mile was timed in 1:51.1.

“Once I got around Daryl, my intention was to get to the front,” said Bongiorno. “He was super.”


Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and the Kitefield Stable, American Classic upped his lifetime stats to 14 wins from 43 starts, good for earnings of $138,781. He returned $10.80 to win as the 4-1 third choice in the wagering.


NINE FOR OTTEN: One night after treating her fans to a $650 score in the Early Pick-4, Jessica Otten was scalding hot, selecting nine winners on top, including the Early Daily Double, two Pick-3s, the Early Pick-4 and a cold exacta (race seven, $38.20). Her best top choice was saved for last when Virtual Kiss paid $10.40 in the 14th race.

Ken Warkentin had seven on top, including American Classic and Toto Hanover ($17.00).


A LITTLE MORE: The 20-cent Pick-8 attracted $2,400 in “new money” after a Friday night carryover, and after the sequence was complete, two winners walked away with a payoff of $1,662.84. … Jason Bartlett was the leading driver with four winners, teaming up three times with Per Engblom, who led all trainers. … Corey Callahan finished the weekend with six winners after registering a second straight three-bagger. … All-source wagering on the 14-race card totaled $2,118,378. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

By Meadowlands Media Relations February 20, 2025
Sunday (Feb. 23) night at Rosen Centre in Orlando, FL, harness racing’s 2024 best will be honored at the annual Dan Patch Awards dinner ...
By U.S. Harness Writers Association February 19, 2025
Want to walk the Courant Inc. Red Carpet at the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s annual Dan Patch Awards dinner, sponsored by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla. on Sunday night, Feb. 23 ...
By U.S. Harness Writers Association February 18, 2025
The 2024 Horse of the Year will be announced Sunday night, Feb. 23, at the annual U.S. Harness Writers Association’s Dan Patch Awards dinner, sponsored by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla. But even if you aren’t among the attendees, you will be able to watch the announcement live via USHWA’s Facebook page ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations February 16, 2025
Driver Jason Bartlett has been killing it all year long on Saturday nights at The Meadowlands ...
By Meadowlands Racetrack February 16, 2025
When live racing kicks off tonight, Saturday, February 15th, fans and horsemen will notice a new 2024 Ford 150 starting gate ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations February 15, 2025
After winning the last two featured events at The Meadowlands with Intothemysticmoon (Feb. 7) and Antognoni A (Feb. 1), it’s possible players planned on betting their $2 on driver Dave Miller in the Friday night marquee event at The Big M ...
More Posts
Share by: