American Dealer steamrolls US rivals in 1:49.2 and even the commentator said Wow!

American Dealer had even the commentator reaching for superlatives when he posted a sizzling 1:49.2 North American debut win at The Meadowlands last night.

“That gets a WOW,” the caller said after he described American Dealer “steam-rolling” past his rivals to down his ex countrymate On The Cards and score by half a length on a chilly 4 deg Celsius evening.

Driver Scott Zeron left from gate four and had the former Lincoln Farms’ star fourth in the running, the first half cut out in a white hot 54 seconds, before easing out just before the three-quarter marker and powering home to win with something in hand.

The Dealer’s time was the second fastest on the night behind former Kiwi Let It Ride, a half brother to Lincoln Farms’ Louie The Punter and Double Or Nothing, who took time honours for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Nifty Norman with a 1:48.6 clocking in the following race.

The Dealer’s performance was arguably the second most impressive North American debut by a Kiwi pacer behind former champion Lazarus who claimed the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park in August, 2018 in 1:48.4.

Co-owner Gordon Banks, who now races the little prize fighter with his cousin Marc Hanover and New Yorker Ken Jacobs, was ecstatic about the first-up win.

Scott Zeron brings American Dealer back to the winner’s circle at the Meadowlands.“What a great start to his North American career,” Banks said.

“I was nervous because of the high expectations we had for The Dealer after his two great trials but he won unurged and safe late.

“It was hard earned and a step-up in company - he raced against three or four good free-for-all horses who will be in the Borgata series, including Captain Barbossa, who won the 2020 Little Brown Jug.”

Banks said you only had to watch Zeron and trainer Linda Toscano in the winner’s circle to see how much they loved the little horse.

“Linda repeatedly refers to him as ‘a real cool dude’, and an impossible horse not to like. Scott exclaimed that he was a breath of fresh air.

“He has made a positive impact on everyone he has come into contact with. Let’s hope his career here builds favourably on this great start.”

The next scheduled race for the son of Woodlands Stud’s American Ideal is in two weeks in the first leg of the Borgata series at Yonkers, which has drawn 40 free-for-allers with an estimated final purse of $US600,000.

Bondi Shake scores for Austin Siegelman.Bondi Shake scores

Earlier, at Freehold in New Jersey, another former Lincoln Farms’ pacer Bondi Shake won at only his second start in the United States, leading all the way in 1:56.6 for trainer-driver Austin Siegelman.

The son of Somebeachsomewhere won six races for Al Barnes in Queensland before his sale last August.