‘WRONG’ PROVES RIGHT IN BIG M’S GARDEN STATE
Wrong Sounds Right picked up his third win in his last four tries Friday night at The Meadowlands after taking the featured $80,000 Garden State for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- August 21, 2026 -- Wrong Sounds Right picked up his third win in his last four tries Friday night at The Meadowlands after taking the featured $80,000 Garden State for 2-year-old colts and geldings on the trot.
The Jim Campbell trainee, sent off as the popular 1-9 favorite, was reserved early, sitting fourth in the eight-horse field as 5-1 second choice Easy Down Blonde took the field past the quarter in :28.1.
Driver Todd McCarthy moved Wrong Sounds Right off the rail just after the half, which Easy Down Blonde reached in :56.4, and made his way after the leader. The eventual winner was getting close to Easy Down Blonde at three-quarters (1:26.1), before collaring that foe as the field straightened up in the stretch. Wrong Sounds Right then went on to an easy 3¼-length win in 1:53.1. Jazzy Blues rallied for second with Easy Down Blonde holding third.
“He was really good tonight. Off the turn, I wanted to come easy with him. He gave me a really good kick,” said McCarthy. “Jim’s done a good job managing this horse. I hope he has a big year. He trotted a good mile in his last start (when second in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Platinum final). He's got a great attitude. It's a good group of people to be working with.”
Wrong Sounds Right, a colt by Tactical Landing-Broadway Jo Ell who is owned by the Runthetable Stables, has now won three of five lifetime outings, good for earnings of $111,250. He paid $2.20 to win.
JUMP IN THE PICK-5 POOL: After a 36-1 shot won the second race and a 32-1 chance the fourth, there were no winning tickets sold on the 20-cent Pick-5, creating a carryover of $27,713 for Saturday’s card.
The pool is estimated to be $100,000.
The Pick-5 is offered on races 1-5, and free past performances for all Meadowlands races are available by going to playmeadowlands.com.
Those with four correct selections Friday cashed in for $156.78.
GREAT IN THE GARDEN STATE: There were two $50,000 divisions of the Garden State for 2-year-old filly trotters contested on the program, and those winners were:
· Race 4 (Division 1) – Special Orchid (Walner-Special Honor), Mark Herschberger was the driver, Tony Alagna is the trainer, time for the mile was 1:55.4 (first win in five lifetime tries), the win payout was $66.20 as the 32-1 longest shot on the board
· Race 6 (Division 2) – Rio De Janeiro (Walner-Devilish Delight), Joe Bongiorno, Nancy Takter, lifetime-best 1:54.1 (second win in five lifetime starts), $7.20 as the 5-2 second choice
DEVELOPING NICELY: Also on the program were a pair of $10,000 New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund events for 3-year-olds on the trot, and those emerging victorious were:
· Race 2 (Fillies) – Grand Prix Deo (Muscle Hill-Grand Stand), Bongiorno, Andrew Harris, lifetime-best 1:52.1 (second win in 13 lifetime outings), $74.60 as the 36-1 longest shot on the board
· Race 12 (Colts and Geldings) – Captain Jordan (Captain Corey-Jordan Blue Chip), Brett Beckwith, Scott DiDomenico, 1:54.2 (ninth win from 20 lifetime starts), $10 as the 4-1 third choice
A LITTLE MORE: Bongiorno was the leading driver on the night with four winner’s circle visits. … Melissa Keith called the races and had herself a good night picking winners. She had four on top, one short-priced favorite, and three others that paid $13.80, $17.80 and $12.20, respectively. … All-source handle on the 13-race program totaled $1,922,441. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
