After finishing a solid second and third, respectively, in his two preliminaries, Mikes Powerhouse upped his game Saturday night, saving his best effort for the Caramore Series Final, winning the $20,850 feature at the Meadowlands for non-winners of $20,000 in 2018 on the pace.
Driver Vinny Ginsburg, who won three races on the evening, put the six-year-old gelded son of Camluck on the lead around the first turn from the rail and hit the quarter in :26.2. The eventual winner got a :57.3 breather through the middle half as Rockinwiththebest, the slight 3-2 favourite, popped out the four hole at the three-eighths and inched his way toward the leader on the rim.
But Mikes Powerhouse brought just enough through a final quarter of :26.4 to hold off the late-charging Astor, who finished a neck back. Rockinwiththebest held on for third. Byby Landon, the slight 3-2 second choice, was blocked in the pocket and had to settle for fifth.
Mikes Powerhouse returned $11.80 to win as the third choice in the wagering and completed the mile in a lifetime-best 1:50.4 for trainer Vincent Fusco, Jr.
Driver Eric Abbatiello continued to endear himself to value players Saturday, guiding one 6-1 shot and a 9-2 chance to victory lane. This after his 22-1 score on the Friday card.
After post-time choices went only 2-for-9 on the Friday program, the chalk players probably felt they were due for a big night Saturday, but it wasn’t to be.
The first 10 chalks failed before Music Is Art clicked at 4-5 in the finale.
For the race week, favourites went 3-for-20 (15 percent).
(Meadowlands)