The 4-year-old mare pacer See You At Peelers romped to a 5 ¼-length score over divisional peers Krispy Apple and New Album, closing out her mile with a final quarter of :27.3 for driver Brian Sears. The sophomore season for the daughter of Bettor's Delight was derailed some when a virus led to heart issues. Still, she finished her campaign with nine wins in 12 starts, $916,611 in earnings, and eventual honors as 3-Year-Old Filly Pacer of the Year.
Trainer Jimmy Takter earlier told harnessracing.com that he plans on See You At Peelers making her seasonal pari-mutuel debut in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series that begins March 23 at Yonkers Raceway. See You At Peelers won her first qualifier March 1 at the Meadowlands in 1:56.3 over a "sloppy" racetrack.
The $3.4-million winner Foiled Again, a 14-time victor last year on his way to Pacer of the Year honors, finished second behind stablemate Clear Vision, a half brother to the 2010 Horse of the Year Rock N Roll Heaven. Jason Bartlett was in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke as Clear Vision drew clear by three lengths down the stretch over Foiled Again and driver Yannick Gingras. The time for the mile was 1:53.
The 8-year-old trotter Arch Madness, who has more than $3.2 million in lifetime earnings, had to settle for second behind Speed Bomb in 1:54.1.
Trainer Trond Smedshammer was in the bike behind Arch Madness as he got away fourth behind the leading Speed Bomb and driver Yannick Gingras. Speed Bomb held the lead throughout as Arch Madness tried to rally from 5 ¼ lengths behind at the half. By the stretch call the margin had been cut in half and at the wire it had shrunk to just a half length as Arch Madness trotted his final quarter in :27.4.
In other qualifying news, San Pail, the 2011 Horse of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada, had his qualifying hopes dashed when trainer and co-owner Rod Hughes decided to scratch the trotter from a scheduled Thursday morning start at Mohawk Racetrack due to poor weather conditions.