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.
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Friday night at Auckland
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Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them

Nathan’s comments
Tuesday twilight at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
5.09pm
“She’s working really well and, from the good draw, hopefully she can run a drum. The field’s not that much harder than the one she beat last time at Manawatu (when parked for the last lap).”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
5.09pm
“We’re very happy with him - he’s come back a better horse. He went well at Auckland last start and is working well. We’ll be looking to go forward from the gate and hopefully get a gun run through behind Onyx Shard. On ability, he’s the better chance of the two.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
5.39pm
“He stepped like a bullet in his first go from a stand here in March. I thought he’d do the same on the second day but he galloped. We’ve got an overcheck on and hopple shorteners on Tuesday so he should make a good beginning. If he can step and lead, then maybe take a trail, he should be hard to beat. He likes it down there where the track is quite soft.”

Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 3: Onyx Shard
6.04pm
“I thought I had Kevin Kline covered on Tuesday when we got to the straight because she was really travelling but he kicked away on us. It would be nice if she can get out of the gate as well again - she has good gate speed - and, if she does, she can get some of it again.”
Race 3: Kevin Kline
6.04pm
“He was too good for them on Tuesday, thanks to a great Fergy drive, and he’s in the same field again this time. The extra distance and wide draw shouldn’t make much of a difference and he’s our best of the night.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.02pm
“He’ll be hard to beat again if he steps like he did on Tuesday. The 10 metre handicap shouldn’t stop him. I think he’s even better if he follows something and the extra 500 metres isn’t a worry.”