New tactics pay off for LMC Peanuts Watchn

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Recently employing what for him is a new tactic, LMC Peanuts Watchn (He’s Watching) took the Saturday night harness racing feature at The Meadowlands, a $16,000 Claiming Handicap for pacers in for tag of at least $20,000 and no more than $24,000, in a dazzling lifetime-best of 1:50.3.

The Chris Height trainee used to like life racing from well off the pace, but the 4-year-old gelded son of He’s Watching-Major Millie has stayed closer to the action in his last three outings, resulting in two trips down victory lane.

Let go in the betting as the 5-1 third choice one start after a solid second at 11-1 and a win in the start before that at 2-1, driver Mark Herschberger had ‘LMC’ sitting third from the start as All Alone and Juddy Douglas A raced 1-2 past the quarter in :27.1 and half in :55.3.

That’s when Herschberger called on LMC Peanuts Watchn, who went up after the leader first up down the backside. Fans of the even-money favorite loved that, as Gallie Getaway, who wore down LMC Peanuts Watchn last week, picked up a live tow second-over as All Alone went past three-quarters in 1:23.1 while clearly in trouble.

With an eighth to go, LMC Peanuts Watchn powered past the leader while opening up enough separation on Gallie Getaway to hold that one at bay easily by a half-length to record his third win in four tries and 11^th lifetime from 74 starts.

LMC PEANUTS WATCHN REPLAY

 

Toto Hanover was third.

“This horse has been sharp. Chris has done a great job with this horse,” said Herschberger. “As soon as he straightened up around the turn, he swelled up and took off.”

LMC Peanuts Watchn paid $12 to win.

DEVELOPING FUTURE STARS: There were four $10,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund races for 2-year-olds of each sex and gait contested on the program, and those winners were:

·         Race 2 (Colt and Gelding Pace) – Goal Oriented (Perfect Sting-Sangaal), driven by Joe Bongiorno, trained by Joe Holloway, winning time a lifetime-best 1:51.3 (now has two wins from eight starts), paid $9.20 as the 7-2 third choice in the wagering

·         Race 3 (Filly Trot) – HL Kapara (Chapter Seven-Sel’s Choice), Tim Tetrick, Harry Landy, 1:54.4 (third win in 10 tries), returned $2.40 as the 1-5 favorite

·         Race 7 (Colt and Gelding Trot) – Barolo (Alrajah One It-Demaslado), Mark Herschberger, Nancy Takter, 1:55.3 (first win in six starts), $20.60 as the 9-1 sixth choice

·         Race 9 (Filly Pace) – Perfect Body (Perfect Sting-Sweet Body), Scott Zeron, Chris Choate, 1:53.2 (fifth win from 12 outings), $5.40 as the 8-5 second choice

A LITTLE MORE: Herschberger led the drivers with three winners. … Brett Beckwith was off all of his drives nursing a sore wrist, the result of being in a spill in Friday night’s eighth race. … All-source handle on the 13-race program totaled $2,138,574. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results

.From The Meadowlands