$428,000 Goldsmith Maid goes to mild upsetter

Closing well in the stretch off live cover, 6-1 Pizzelle (Walner) and harness racing driver Andy McCarthy pulled off the minor upset in capturing the $428,000 Goldsmith Maid for two-year-old trotting fillies Saturday (Nov. 25) at The Meadowlands.

The 8^th race saw Sambuca Hanover (David Miller) shooting to the early lead with race favorite R Melina (Dexter Dunn) leaving and settling in second as they went to the first quarter in a mild :28.

Dunn then quarter moved with R Melina and took over command of the race to the half mile marker in :57.2. Then in the backstretch, Soiree Hanover (Tim Tetrick) came first-over with Honey’s Sweet (Yannick Gingras) second-over and third-over was Pizzelle.

Around the final turn, Soiree Hanover cleared by R Melina right at the three-quarters in 1:25.2. Dunn then came right back with R Melina down the stretch with Pizzelle, after fanning out three-wide and starting to gain ground on the race leaders.

More than halfway down the stretch, Sambuca Hanover came back to head R Melina, but it was driver Andy McCarthy and Pizzelle who were the fastest of all, coming on at the wire to win by one length in 1:54. Sambuca Hanover was second with R Melina third.

PIZZELLE REPLAY

It was just the third win on the year for Pizzelle. She is trained by Noel Daley for owners Chris Beaver and onald Robinson, paying $14.40 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink