RACING ROUNDUP : Hambletonian Turns Out to Be Giant Victory

Eleven months ago, driver Jack Moiseyev was in harness racing’s dog house. On Saturday, he was in the Hambletonian winner’s circle at East Rutherford, N.J.

Moiseyev, suspended last year from April 1 to Sept. 10 for a series of driving infractions, drove Giant Victory to a three-quarter-length victory in the $1-million race for 3-year-old trotters at the Meadowlands.

The win for the colt, who underwent a name change after the New York Giants’ 1987 Super Bowl victory, occurred within shouting distance of Giants Stadium. He previously was named Healthy Glow.

Giant Victory, who won the second elimination heat, beat first-heat winner MB Felty in the final in 1:55 on the Meadowlands one-mile track.

The winner earned $500,000 and paid $5.60, $3 and $3. The entry of MB Felty and Uconn Don, who finished third, returned $2.60 and $2.80.

Completing the order of finish were Somatic, Crysta’s Best, Anders Crown, Super Pleasure, Big Brown, Can’t Be a Jimmie and Grundy’s Mint.

At Saratoga--Favorite In Excess scored a 3 1/4-length victory over Chief Honcho in the $250,000 Grade I Whitney Handicap. In winning the Whitney, In Excess, ridden by Gary Stevens, became the third horse to win the Metropolitan, Surburban and Whitney handicaps in the same year. Tom Fool did it in 1953 and Kelso did the same in 1961.

The winner stalked pacesetting Senator To Be to the far turn before taking the lead. Through the stretch, he widened his margin with apparent ease. “That was fun, man,” Stevens said. “He just absolutely cruised out there. I didn’t have to ask him for much today.” The 4-year-old colt covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 to earn $150,000 and return $3, $2.40 and $2.10.

At Arlington International--Favored Olympio came from behind to win the $300,000 American Derby by almost three lengths over Discover with Jackie Wackie third in the 1 1/4-mile race. Olympio, ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye, was in third place for about seven furlongs, but then charged to the fore. The winning time was 2:00 and Olympio, who earned $180,000, paid $3.20.

At Monmouth Park--California-based Fluttery Danseur remained unbeaten in three starts by beating a field on nine in the $200,000 Sorority Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Fluttery Danseur, trained by Brian Mayberry and ridden by Martin Pedroza, covered six furlongs in 1:10 3/5 in defeating Miss Legality and Capture Crown. Fluttery Danseur, who won the Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park in her last start, paid $5.20 for the victory.