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Dec 15, 2017

Esprit De Kayjay A isn’t getting older, he’s getting better.

The 13-year-old gelding won his second straight Meadowlands start after taking four in a row at Freehold, winning the first of two divisions of the second leg of the Dash For The “G” Notes series Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Andy Miller has been in the sulky for all half-dozen victories.

Esprit De Kayjay A worked out a pocket trip and won easily splitting rivals in deep stretch to win in a season’s-best 1:53.4 by 2¾-lengths over Pan Grad. Salevster Stallion was third.

As the 1-2 public choice, ‘Kayjay’ returned $3.00 to win for trainer Nick Surick, who also owns the horse along with his mom Debbie. The veteran campaigner has now won 71 races in 300 lifetime starts and has banked $533,121.

“He’s a horse with a lot of problems,” said Surick, who is far in front of the field in the trainer standings at Freehold Raceway. “But he has a huge heart. He seems to do his best work in the winter when they don’t go as fast.”

Miller completed a driving sweep of the Dash For The “G” Notes events, guiding Walks Of Life to a powerhouse score in 1:52.4.

The 7-year-old son of Western Ideal burst away from the gate and was never threatened while racing on the lead, scoring by 2¼-lengths over May I Cruise West. Every Intention was third.

DARK VADER POSTS $22.20 SURPRISE IN RETURN TO MAIN TRACK;

SAN LUIS REY BASED SCATHING RALLIES FOR THURSDAY VICTORY

A return to dirt and the maiden ranks helped Dark Vader spring a 10-1 upset Thursday at Los Alamitos.

This victory came about 90 minutes before Scathing, a 4-year-old gray daughter of Grazen, became the first San Luis Rey based horse to win a race since the tragic Lilac fire swept through the Bonsall, Ca. training facility Dec. 7.

An $8,000 claim by trainer Adam Kitchingman for owner Cody Polansky Oct. 6, Scathing rallied to win the $17,535 starter allowance by 1 ½ lengths in her second start for her current connections.

Scathing, who has won five of 22 and earned $70,341, had to pass a respiratory exam before being cleared to race.  Fortunately, Kitchingman’s San Luis Rey stable wasn’t badly affected by the fire, which destroyed eight barns and killed a reported 46 horses.

The final time for the five furlongs was 58.26 seconds. Scathing paid $10.60, $5.40 and $2.80 as the 4-1 fourth choice in the field of seven. Aiming Straight returned $4.20 and $2.80 while finishing a neck in front of 5-2 favorite Papa Mambo. The show price on Papa Mambo was $2.80.

Owned by a partnership that includes Sharon Alesia, Burns Racing LLC and Ciaglia Racing LLC and trained by Peter Eurton, Dark Vader, a 2-year-old Tale of Ekati colt, was up in the final strides to defeat 7-2 second choice Destiny Awaits by a nose.

Out of the Grand Slam mare Dark Obsession, Dark Vader, who was purchased for $150,000 at the OBS March sale, completed the mile in 1:37.17 under jockey Stewart Elliott.

The win pushed the Ohio bred’s earnings to $37,845 in four starts. Prior to Thursday, Dark Vader had finished second in his Los Alamitos debut, beaten a head by eventual Gold Rush Stakes winner City Plan Sept. 7 before he was off the board in a restricted stakes at Belterra Park and seventh of 10 in his turf debut at Del...

Some insights into tonight’s racing program for our IdaBet players, beginning final weekend of season.

1^ST RACE – (5) TOWNSLIGHT HANOVER was a local track record-holder as a frosh many moons ago. One win each of last two seasons and bottom claimer.

4^TH RACE – (1) DECLARATION OF WAR seems to be more a competent sort when he knows he’s for sale. Is so again here, and winning draw won’t hurt.

5^TH RACE – (1) BRALEY HANOVER is officially on notice, disappointing us constantly since hitting town. Once more shot from pole before we pay no mind.

6^TH RACE – (6) JUSTICE MY WAY has worked for this missive more than once. Chased home handy winner in much-improved effort, not exactly consistent.

7^TH RACE – (5) SASSA HANOVER has had misfortune of going up against resurgent ma’am in last couple. Millionairess not lass she was, but can work here.

10^TH RACE – (2) BROWN BRINNY continues to draw well and continues to get gazed. She’s never a surprise with half a trip at this level, wouldn’t be here.

12^TH RACE – (4) LAKEISHA HALL offered some late, 50-1 pace last week in distaff derby. Leaves adults, but this high-condition finale came up quite tough.

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$2 +/- (thru Tue., Dec. 12) – 322 wins [inc. 2 dead-heats] ($2,404.50)

from 1,473 ($2,946) selex (-$541.50, making the parents proud)

highest-priced winner – GYPSY LEATHER ($57.50)

lowest-priced winner – GREAT VINTAGE/FUNKNWAFFLES ($2.20 each)

BY FRANK DRUCKER,

Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

Thank you for choosing IdaBet.com!

 Two names that might not be familiar to Meadowlands regulars will be appearing in the program more and more during the winter months, and Mitchell Cushing and Austin Siegelman are prepared to do what it takes to make it on the sizable Big M stage.

The first of these two youngsters is 19-year-old Cushing, who was actually contacted while making his way from his Albion, Maine home to the Meadowlands Thursday night.

“I’m on my way there now,” said Cushing, who graduated high school in June of 2016. “It’s about six hours to get there. It’ll be my second time driving at the Meadowlands. Last week, I drove one horse.”

Six hours in the car for one drive. Why?

“For the love of the sport,” said Cushing, who has been driving regularly for a year and a half in Maine and Massachusetts. “It’s always been a childhood dream to drive at the Meadowlands.”

It may not be a six-hour trip, but when Pocono Downs races, Siegelman drives four days a week from Pocono to Monticello and back. On days such as Thursday, once Monti is done, it’s 90 minutes one way to the Big M.

Siegelman has been driving full-time for about four years. His father James has horses at Pocono that Austin drives, but with Pocono dark for the winter, the 25-year-old is taking another...