‘APPETITE’ GOBBLES UP FOES IN BIG M’S TRACKMASTER

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- June 21,2024 -- Santafe’s Appetite completed a three-race sweep of the TrackMaster Series for female pacers with a rating of 76.5 or less Friday night at The Meadowlands by using her usual late-closing kick.

The 4-year-old daughter of Stay Hungry-Thesantafe Express won the series’ $17,500 finale to win for the fifth time in her last eight starts. She was piloted by Johnathan Ahle for trainer Pat Lachance.

Arriving at The Meadowlands after winning two straight at Pocono Downs, Santafe’s Appetite hit a rough patch, coming up short in three straight dashes at the mile oval, but she got her act back together by winning on June 7 and 14 in off-the-pace fashion, circling up three-wide from sixth off cover at three-quarters in both outings, which set her up well to extend her winning streak Friday.

Departing from the rail in the seven-horse field, Ahle had ‘Santafe’ sitting fourth after Rags To Riches reached the quarter in :26.4 before she yielded the point to P L Portia at the half in a snappy :54.3.

“I was licking my chops when I saw how fast they went to the half,” said Ahle. “She always closes well.”

Just after Santafe’s Appetite vacated the rail after the half, Roma Amor popped out of the three-hole to provide live cover for the eventual winner as P L Portia took them past three-quarters in 1:22.2.

It was easy gravy from there, as Ahle tipped Santafe’s Appetite off her cover at the head of the stretch and rolled by her defenseless foes to win for fun by 1¼ lengths. Our Shell Belle was second with P L Portia holding third. The winning time of 1:50.3 was a lifetime best for Santafe’s Appetite, who lowered her previous mark by one-and-two-fifth seconds.

“She raced real big,” said Ahle. “The half in :54[.3] helped us out. She’s fun to drive.”

Owned by Edward De Rosa, Santafe’s Appetite upped her lifetime numbers to nine wins from 35 starts, good for earnings of just over $70,000.

CARRYOVER CHECK: The 20-cent Pick-6 failed to yield a winning ticket, setting up a carryover of $3,440 for Saturday. Those with five correct selections collected $143.34.

The 11^th race 10-cent Hi-5 (or Pentafecta, if you prefer) was not hit after 24-1 shot Caribbean Sports pulled off an upset, creating a carryover of $15,253 for Saturday’s 11^th race.

A LITTLE MORE: Ahle was the heavyweight champ of the driver colony with three wins on the program. … Lachance led the trainers with two walks down victory lane. … All-source handle totaled $2,480,227 on the 14-race card. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.